U.S. patent application number 11/766884 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for motor driving apparatus, motor driving method and disk driving apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shingo FUKAMIZU, Shinichi Kuroshima, Hideaki Mori, Yasunori Yamamoto.
Application Number | 20080018279 11/766884 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38970806 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080018279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FUKAMIZU; Shingo ; et
al. |
January 24, 2008 |
MOTOR DRIVING APPARATUS, MOTOR DRIVING METHOD AND DISK DRIVING
APPARATUS
Abstract
A motor driving apparatus includes a virtual difference voltage
detecting unit operable to detect a difference voltage between a
virtual neutral point of a resistor circuit connected in parallel
to motor coils and a terminal of a motor coil in non-conduction
state, a rotor position detecting unit operable to detect a
position of the rotor based on the difference voltage, and a
controller operable to control commutation of an inverter based on
the rotor position. The motor driving apparatus has a searching
start mode for detecting the rotor position and energizes the
coils, and a back electromotive voltage feedback mode for
controlling commutation based on the back electromotive voltage. In
the searching start mode, a rotor position searching process and a
rotation start torque applying process are alternately
performed.
Inventors: |
FUKAMIZU; Shingo; (Osaka,
JP) ; Yamamoto; Yasunori; (Osaka, JP) ; Mori;
Hideaki; (Osaka, JP) ; Kuroshima; Shinichi;
(Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RATNERPRESTIA
P.O. BOX 980
VALLEY FORGE
PA
19482
US
|
Assignee: |
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
38970806 |
Appl. No.: |
11/766884 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/432 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02P 6/182 20130101;
H02P 6/22 20130101; H02P 6/185 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
318/432 |
International
Class: |
H02P 7/00 20060101
H02P007/00; H02P 7/06 20060101 H02P007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2006 |
JP |
2006-172848 |
Claims
1. A motor driving apparatus for driving a motor which includes a
rotor and a stator having motor coils of a plurality of phases, the
motor driving apparatus comprising: a virtual neutral point unit
that has a virtual neutral point, and provides a voltage obtained
by averaging motor terminal voltages at the virtual neutral point;
an inverter comprising a plurality of switching elements; a back
electromotive voltage detecting unit operable to detect a back
electromotive voltage of the motor; a virtual difference voltage
detecting unit operable to detect a virtual difference voltage
which is a difference voltage between a voltage of the virtual
neutral point and a terminal voltage of a motor coil in
non-conduction state; a rotor position detecting unit operable to
detect a position of the rotor on the basis of the virtual
difference voltage; and a controller operable to control
commutation of the inverter, wherein the controller has, as
operational modes, a searching start mode for determining
conduction phases at the start of the motor on the basis of the
detection result by the rotor position detecting unit and energizes
the coils of the determined conduction phases; and a back
electromotive voltage feedback mode for controlling commutation on
the basis of the back electromotive voltage detected by the back
electromotive voltage detecting unit, the controller alternately
performs a rotor position searching process and a rotation start
torque applying process in the searching start mode, the rotor
position searching process applies a search pulse for detecting the
rotor position in forward and backward directions of at least a
pair of conduction phases to detect virtual difference voltages,
and adds the virtual difference voltages obtained in the forward
and backward directions, to determine the rotor position on the
basis of a polarity of the added virtual difference voltage; and
the rotation start torque applying process applies a predetermined
rotation torque to the rotor on the basis of the rotor position
determined by the rotor position searching process.
2. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a
first rotor position searching process, the controller detects
virtual difference voltages with respect to all conduction
patterns, judges polarities of the detected virtual difference
voltages, and determines the rotor position on the basis of the
polarity determination result, and in the second and subsequent
rotor position searching processes, the controller applies the
search pulse only to a pair of conduction phases determined on the
basis of the result of polarity determination by the previous rotor
position searching process, detects a virtual difference voltage,
and determines the rotor position on the basis of the detected
virtual difference voltage.
3. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
controller further has a retry mode for changing a setting
parameter in the case of failure of the rotor position
determination in the rotor position searching process, and
subsequently performing again the rotor position determination by
the rotor position searching process.
4. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
controller further has a retry mode for applying a kick pulse to
the motor coil in the case of failure of the rotor position
determination in the rotor position searching process, and
subsequently performing again the rotor position detection by the
rotor position searching process.
5. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
rotor position detecting unit converts the polarity of the added
virtual difference voltage into a logic value, and determines the
rotor position using the logic value.
6. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
rotor position detecting unit weights the logic value for each
combination of conduction phases, sums the weighted logic values of
the conduction phases, and determines the rotor position using the
summed value.
7. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a command unit operable to control a current peak value
of the search pulse.
8. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a command unit operable to control a current peak value
of the rotation start pulse.
9. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when
the motor rotating speed exceeds a predetermined value in the
searching start mode, the controller shifts the mode to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode.
10. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
virtual difference voltage detecting unit comprises a differential
amplification circuit.
11. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
virtual neutral point unit is connected in parallel to the motor
coils, includes a plurality of resistances in common connection,
and the common connection point of the resistances is the virtual
neutral point.
12. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a selection circuit operable to selectively connect the
virtual neutral point or a neutral point of the motor coils to the
virtual difference detector in the searching start mode and the
back electromotive voltage feedback mode.
13. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after
the first rotor position searching process, the mode is switched
from the searching start mode to the back electromotive voltage
feedback mode.
14. A motor driving method for driving a motor which includes a
rotor and a stator having motor coils of a plurality of phases, the
method comprising: performing a searching start mode which applies
a search pulse to the motor coils, determines conduction phases on
the basis of a response signal to the applied pulse, and energizes
the determined conduction phases; and performing a back
electromotive voltage feedback mode which detects a back
electromotive voltage generated in the motor, and controls
commutation on the basis of the detected back electromotive
voltage, wherein the searching start mode alternately performs a
rotor position searching process and a rotation start torque
applying process, the rotor position searching process applies a
search pulse for detecting a rotor position in forward and backward
directions of at least a pair of conduction phases, detects each in
the forward and backward directions a virtual difference voltage as
a voltage difference between a voltage at a virtual neutral point
which is a voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages
and a terminal voltage of a motor coil in non-conduction state,
adds the virtual difference voltages obtained in the forward and
backward directions, and determines the rotor position on the basis
of a polarity of the added virtual difference voltage, and the
rotation start torque applying process applies a rotation start
pulse for providing a predetermined rotation torque to the rotor on
the basis of the rotor position determined by the rotor position
searching process.
15. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein the
added virtual difference voltage is compared with a predetermined
threshold to determine the polarity of the virtual difference
voltage in the searching start mode.
16. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein the
search pulse is applied to at most three pairs of conduction phases
to detect the virtual difference voltage, only in the first rotor
position searching process.
17. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein, in
detection of the polarity of the rotor position by the second or
subsequent rotor position searching processes, the search pulse is
applied to a pair of conduction phases determined on the basis of
the polarity of the virtual difference voltage obtained by the
previous rotor position searching process, to obtain a virtual
difference voltage, and a rotor state transition is determined on
the basis of the obtained virtual difference voltage, and in a case
where the rotor state transition is not recognized, in a next rotor
position searching process, the search pulse is applied to the pair
of conduction phases used for successful detection of the rotor
state transition in the previous rotor position searching
process.
18. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein, in the
second or subsequent rotor position searching processes, the search
pulse is applied to a pair of conduction phases determined on the
basis of the polarity of the virtual difference voltage obtained by
the previous rotor position searching process, to obtain a virtual
difference voltage, and the rotor state transition is determined on
the basis of the obtained virtual difference voltage, and in a case
where the rotor state transition is recognized, in a next rotor
position searching process, the search pulse is applied to a pair
of conduction phases which enables recognition of the rotor state
transition to a next position.
19. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein, during
the rotor position searching process, in the case of failure of the
rotor position detection, a kick pulse is applied for changing the
rotor position, and subsequently, the rotor position searching
process is performed again.
20. The motor driving method according to claim 19, wherein the
kick pulse includes two or three pulses with phases different from
one another by a predetermined angle.
21. The motor driving method according to claim 20, wherein the
predetermined angle is substantially either one of 90, 60, and 120
degrees.
22. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein the
rotation start pulse includes a plurality of pulses with current
peak values limited to predetermined values.
23. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein the
search pulse includes a plurality of pulses with current peak
values limited to predetermined values.
24. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein, when a
predetermined times of rotor state transitions are detected in the
searching start mode, the mode is shifted to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode.
25. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein, when
the rotational speed of the motor reaches a predetermined value in
the searching start mode, the mode is shifted to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode.
26. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein first
detection of a back electromotive voltage after the mode shift to
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode is performed on the
basis of zero-cross timing expected from a commutation period in
the searching start mode immediately before the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode.
27. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein the
rotor position is determined on the basis of a virtual difference
voltage at a time when the search pulse current reaches a
predetermined value.
28. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein in
order to detect the rotor position, a voltage at the virtual
neutral point is used in the searching start mode, and a voltage at
a neutral point of the motor coils is used in the back
electromotive feed back mode.
29. The motor driving method according to claim 14, wherein after
the first rotor position searching process, the mode is switched
from the searching start mode to the back electromotive voltage
feedback mode.
30. A disk driving system comprising: a motor for rotating a disk;
and a motor driving apparatus for driving the motor according to
claim 1.
Description
BACKGROUND ART
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a motor driving apparatus
and a motor driving method which enable start of a motor without
use of a sensor for detecting a rotor position.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] In driving of a brushless motor, it is necessary to obtain
an electrical relative position of a rotor to a stator in order to
select an appropriate phase of the stator for supplying a current
to apply a stable torque to the rotor. A variety of rotor position
sensors are used for obtaining an electrical relative position of
the rotor to the stator. Meanwhile, a sensorless driving technique
which requires no rotor position sensor is under development from
the viewpoint of reliability, an increase in cost, and
environmental resistance.
[0005] In such a sensorless driving technique, it is generally
known that a rotor position is detected by reading a back
electromotive voltage generated in the motor coil during rotation
of the rotor. However, the back electromotive voltage is not
generated during stoppage of the rotor, and hence a variety of
methods have been proposed as rotor position detecting methods
during stoppage of the rotor.
[0006] For example, Japanese Patent No. 2547778 shows a method of
applying an initial position detection pulse as a pulse for
detecting an initial position of a rotor, while sequentially
selecting phases of a stator, to detect a rotor position from a
phase where a current of a maximum value is flowing at the
moment.
[0007] Further, in JP-A-07-83628, a rotor position is obtained in
the following manner. Phases of a stator are sequentially selected,
and a rotor position search pulse is applied thereto. At that time,
voltages that appear at a neutral point of motor coils are divided
into a first measured voltage group showing measured voltage values
close to a third of a power supply voltage value and a second
measured voltage group showing measured voltage values close to two
thirds of the power supply voltage, and each of the voltage values
are then stored. From the storage data of each measured value, a
difference between the minimum absolute voltage value and the
maximum absolute voltage value of each of the voltage groups is
obtained. The obtained difference voltages of the respective groups
are compared with each other, and the rotor position is determined
on the basis of a conduction pattern in which a larger difference
voltage is obtained.
[0008] Further, according to a motor driving apparatus disclosed in
JP-A-2004-104846, phases of a stator are sequentially selected and
a rotor position search pulse is applied to each selected phase. A
neutral point voltage of motor coils, which is generated in flowing
of the rotor position search pulse current, is inputted into a
detection circuit for detecting a rotor position. As thus
described, the method is shown for determining the rotor position
on the basis of reference data of the neutral point voltage for
rotor position determination. Further, in the detection circuit, a
detection level is shifted to a level according to a drive signal
for rotor position detection, and comparison by a comparator
between the shifted detection level and the neutral point voltage
of the motor coils is outputted and then stored, to determine the
rotor position on the basis of the comparison between the stored
data and reference data of variations in neutral point voltage for
rotor position determination.
[0009] Since in the brushless motor, vibration, noise and
rotational variations have to be suppressed by devising structure
of the motor, a variety of motors with magnets of rotors magnetized
by varied methods, cores in varied shapes, or other elements
varied, have appeared in the market. A motor driving apparatus for
driving such motors is required to reliably start the motors.
[0010] In the above-mentioned conventional method, the mode is
shifted from the rotor position searching process to an operational
mode for driving the motor while detecting a back electromotive
voltage (hereinafter referred to as "back electromotive voltage
mode"). Therefore, when the initial position has not been
successfully detected in the rotor position searching process, the
motor remains stopped. Moreover, when the detected initial position
is inaccurate, appropriate initial acceleration has not been given
to the motor to shift the mode to the back electromotive voltage
detection mode, which might cause occurrence of erroneous operation
(reversal etc.) due to starting failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is directed to solve the
above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a motor
driving apparatus which enables more reliable start of a motor.
[0012] According to the present invention, during a searching start
mode, in order to detect a rotor position, a rotor position search
pulse in two-phase conduction is applied in forward and backward
directions to detect virtual difference voltage each of which is a
difference voltage between a voltage at a virtual neutral point and
a terminal voltage of a motor coil in non-conduction state. The
virtual difference voltages in the forward and backward directions
are added (synthesized) and polarity of the added result is
determined. Here, a virtual neutral point is a node to provide a
voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages, which can be
realized, for example, by a common connection point of resistors
connected in parallel to the motor coils. Such search for the rotor
position by conduction of the rotor position search pulse is
repeated in a predetermined number of times, and the rotor position
is then determined according to the predetermined number of
polarity determination results.
[0013] Namely, when conduction phases are sequentially selected and
energized, response signal potential differences, with reference to
the voltage at the virtual neutral point, each obtained from
variation in voltage of a motor coil of non-conduction phase, are
stored. The stored data are added and a polarity of the added
result is determined.
[0014] Next, conduction phases at the start of the motor are
determined on the basis of the polarity determination, and motor
starting conduction is performed according to the determination. In
this case, when the mode is shifted from the searching start mode
to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the mode is
shifted to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode through a
process of applying an appropriate rotational speed to the initial
start of the motor.
[0015] On this account, in the searching start mode, a "rotor
position searching process" for detecting a virtual difference
voltage to search the rotor position and a "rotation start torque
applying process" for applying a starting torque are alternately
performed. The virtual difference voltage detected in the rotor
position search process has a large amplitude and wide detection
range, and thus possesses strong noise-resistance. Using the
virtual difference voltage as a rotor position detection signal can
suppress occurrence of a dead point (a position at which the rotor
position is not detected) of on detection of an initial rotor
position. As a result, accurate rotor position information can be
detected.
[0016] Specifically, the motor driving apparatus according to the
present invention has a configuration as follows.
[0017] A motor driving apparatus according to the invention has the
following configuration.
[0018] The motor driving apparatus according to the invention
includes: a virtual neutral point unit that has a virtual neutral
point and provides a voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal
voltages at the virtual neutral point; an inverter comprising a
plurality of switching elements; a back electromotive voltage
detecting unit operable to detect a back electromotive voltage of
the motor; a virtual difference voltage detecting unit operable to
detect a virtual difference voltage which is a difference voltage
between a voltage at the virtual neutral point and a terminal
voltage of a motor coil in non-conduction state; a rotor position
detecting unit operable to detect a position of the rotor on the
basis of the virtual difference voltage; and a controller operable
to control commutation of the inverter.
[0019] The controller has, as operational modes, a searching start
mode for determining conduction phases at the start of the motor on
the basis of the detection result by the rotor position detecting
unit and energizes the coils of the determined conduction phases;
and a back electromotive voltage feedback mode for controlling
commutation on the basis of the back electromotive voltage detected
by the back electromotive voltage detecting unit.
[0020] In the searching start mode, a rotor position searching
process and a rotation start torque applying process are
alternately performed. The rotor position searching process applies
a search pulse for detecting the rotor position in forward and
backward directions of at least a pair of conduction phases to
detect virtual difference voltages, and adds the virtual difference
voltages obtained in the forward and backward directions, to
determine the rotor position on the basis of a polarity of the
added virtual difference voltage. The rotation start torque
applying process applies a predetermined rotation torque to the
rotor on the basis of the rotor position determined by the rotor
position searching process.
[0021] A motor driving method according to the invention includes:
performing a searching start mode which applies a search pulse to
the motor coils, determines conduction phases on the basis of a
response signal to the applied pulse, and energizes the determined
conduction phases; and performing a back electromotive voltage
feedback mode which detects a back electromotive voltage generated
in the motor, and controls commutation on the basis of the detected
back electromotive voltage. The searching start mode alternately
performs a rotor position searching process and a rotation start
torque applying process.
[0022] The rotor position searching process applies a search pulse
for detecting a rotor position in forward and backward directions
of at least a pair of conduction phases, detects each in the
forward and backward directions a virtual difference voltage as a
voltage difference between a voltage at a virtual neutral point
which is a voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages
and a terminal voltage of a motor coil in non-conduction state,
adds the virtual difference voltages obtained in the forward and
backward directions, and determines the rotor position on the basis
of a polarity of the added virtual difference voltage.
[0023] The rotation start torque applying process applies a
rotation start pulse for providing a predetermined rotation torque
to the rotor on the basis of the rotor position determined by the
rotor position searching process.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0024] According to the present invention, in a searching start
mode as a mode at the start of the motor, a rotor position is
determined on the basis of a virtual difference voltage which is a
difference between a voltage at a virtual neutral point to provide
a voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages and a
terminal voltage of a motor coil of non-conduction phase, thus to
provide an appropriate rotational speed (rotation start torque) at
initial start. Since the virtual difference voltage has a large
amplitude and a wide range of detection area, it is strong for
noise. Therefore using the virtual difference voltage as a rotor
position detection signal allows occurrence of dead point (a
position at which a rotor position can not be detected) on
detection of initial rotor position to be reduced so that initial
start of the motor can be reliably performed. Further, applying
sufficient acceleration in the searching start mode allows the mode
to smoothly be shifted to a subsequent back electromotive voltage
period mode, thus resulting in quick and reliable start of the
motor having no rotor position sensor.
[0025] Moreover, at the start of the motor, even when the rotor is
located at a dead point where the rotor position determination is
impossible, a kick pulse for displaying the rotor position can be
imparted to resolve the dead point, thus achieving reliable start
of the motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a motor driving
apparatus according to the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view showing a detailed configuration of a rotor
position detection circuit and a virtual difference voltage
detector.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a view showing another configuration of a rotor
position detection circuit and a virtual difference voltage
detector.
[0029] FIGS. 4A to 4C are views showing examples of connection of a
back electromotive voltage detector including a comparator to motor
coils and a resistor circuit.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the motor driving apparatus at the
start operation.
[0031] FIGS. 6A to 6B are views showing the relation among an
induced voltage, neutral point voltage, and virtual difference
voltage.
[0032] FIG. 7A is a characteristic view showing a measurement
result (A) of a virtual difference voltage in application of a
rotor position search pulse from U-phase to V-phase (forward
direction), and a measurement result (B) of a virtual difference
voltage in application of the rotor position search pulse from
V-phase to U-phase (backward direction). FIG. 7B is a view showing
a result of addition of virtual difference voltages in the forward
and backward directions shown in FIG. 7A.
[0033] FIGS. 8A to 8C are views showing the relation between the
torque constant and the polarity output of added difference
voltages (E1, E2, E3) with respect to the rotor position shown in
FIGS. 7A and 7B.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a view showing the relation between the rotor
position detectable position and the combination of polarity
outputs of added difference voltages (E1, E2, E3).
[0035] FIG. 10A is a view showing the relation among the current
pulse conducting direction (combination of conduction phases and
conducting direction) in rotor position determination which is
obtained by a rotor position search pulse in two-phase conduction,
the virtual difference voltage in the conducting direction, and the
added difference voltage value E1, E2, E3. FIG. 10B is a view
showing the relation between the polarity determination result of
E1, E2, E3 and the start conduction phase of a rotation start pulse
on the basis of the polarity determination results E1, E2, E3.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a rotor position searching process
in a searching start mode.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a rotation start torque applying
process in the searching start mode;
[0038] FIGS. 13A to 13E are views showing an example of timing for
application of the rotor position search pulse and the rotation
start pulse in the first embodiment.
[0039] FIGS. 14A to 14D are timing charts showing conduction
current waveforms in a sensorless type motor driving apparatus.
FIG. 14D is a view showing edge directions of zero-cross detection
in cases where a back electromotive voltage generated in a
non-conduction phase is detected when a current is conducted
through each of the U-phase, the V-phase and W-phase.
[0040] FIGS. 15A to 15B are views explaining timing for detecting
zero-cross of the back electromotive voltage.
[0041] FIG. 16A is a view showing respective waveforms of an
induced voltage and a back electromotive voltage generated in the
W-phase as a non-conduction phase in conduction from U-phase coil
to V-phase coil in a three-phase brushless motor B at a motor
rotating speed of 50 rpm. FIG. 16B is a view showing a waveform of
a added voltage of the induced voltage and the back electromotive
voltage generated in the non-conduction phase (W-phase).
[0042] FIG. 17A is a view showing respective waveforms of the
induced voltage and back electromotive voltages generated in the
W-phase as the non-conduction phase in conduction from the U-phase
coil to the V-phase coil in the three-phase blushless motor at
rotor rotating speeds of 100 rpm and 200 rpm. FIG. 17B is a view
showing waveforms of added voltages of the induced voltage and the
back electromotive voltages generated in the non-conduction phase
(W-phase).
[0043] FIGS. 18A and 18B are views for explaining another example
of a method for setting start conduction phases of a rotation start
pulse on the basis of polarity determination results of added
difference voltages E1, E2, E3 in a rotor position detection
circuit.
[0044] FIG. 19 is a view showing rotor position dependence
characteristics of virtual difference voltages in cases different
in level of the rotor position search pulse in application of the
rotor position search pulse from the U-phase coil to the V-shape
coil.
[0045] FIGS. 20A to 20C are views for explaining control of an
amplitude of the rotor position search pulse.
[0046] FIGS. 21A and 21B are views explaining a means of applying
the rotor position search pulse and the rotation start pulse.
[0047] FIGS. 22A to 22E are views explaining application of the
rotor position search pulse and the rotation start pulse in a case
where the rotation start pulse includes a plurality of pulses.
[0048] FIG. 23 is a view showing a rotor position dependency of
virtual difference voltages in cases of an increase and a decrease
in current of the rotor position search pulse in application of the
rotor position search pulse from the U-phase coil to the V-phase
coil.
[0049] FIG. 24 is a flowchart including a generalized rotor
position searching process, a process for transition to a
synchronous starting mode at the start of synchronous operation,
and a process for switching the operation to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, in the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 25 is a view showing another configuration of a motor
driving apparatus according to the present invention.
[0051] FIGS. 26A and 26B are views showing examples of connection
of a back electromotive voltage detector to motor coils and a
resistor circuit in the motor driving apparatus shown in FIG.
25.
[0052] FIG. 27 is a view showing another configuration of a motor
driving apparatus according to the present invention.
[0053] FIGS. 28A and 28B are views showing examples of connection
of a back electromotive voltage detector to motor coils and a
resistor circuit in the motor driving apparatus shown in FIG.
25.
[0054] FIG. 29 is a constitutional view of an optical disk system
driving apparatus of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0055] In the following, specific embodiments of a motor driving
apparatus and a motor driving method according to the present
invention are described with reference to drawings.
Embodiment 1
1. Configuration of Motor Driving Apparatus
[0056] FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a motor driving
apparatus according to the present invention. The motor driving
apparatus is a device for driving a motor 9.
[0057] The motor 9 includes a stator having coils 10 to 12 of three
phases, a U-phase, a V-phase and a W-phase, and a rotor which is
rotated by a rotating magnetic field generated in the stator.
Although a three-phase motor is used as an example of the motor 9
in the present embodiment, an N-phase motor (N is an integer not
smaller than 4) may be used. A U-phase coil 10, a V-phase coil 11
and a W-phase coil 12 have common connection at an actual neutral
point CN1.
[0058] The motor driving apparatus supplies a drive power of the
motor 9, and has an inverter circuit 30 including a plurality of
switching elements 3 to 8, a pre-driver 29 for outputting a drive
signal of each of the switching elements 3 to 8 in the inverter
circuit 30, a commutation controller 22 for outputting to the
pre-driver 29 a signal for switching conduction phases as phases of
motor coils to be conducted, and a rotor position detecting circuit
50 for determining a rotor position.
[0059] Further, the motor driving apparatus has a resistor circuit
17 including resistors connected respectively to ends of the motor
coils 10 to 12 of the phases and connected together at a neutral
point ("virtual neutral point") CN2, a virtual difference voltage
detector 40 for detecting a virtual difference voltage which is a
voltage difference between a voltage at the terminal of the motor
coil 10 to 12 of non-conduction phase and a voltage at the virtual
neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17, a back electromotive
voltage detector 36 for detecting a back electromotive voltage of
the motor coil, a selection circuit 33 for selecting a motor coil
to be connected with the virtual difference voltage detector 40, a
threshold setting unit 38 for setting a threshold for detecting the
back electromotive voltage, and a PWM signal generator 45 for
outputting to the commutation controller 22 a signal with the pulse
width controlled. The resistor circuit 17 is a circuit to provide a
voltage obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages, and may be
alternated by another circuit having the same function. For
example, the resistor circuit 17 may include further element other
than the resistor if having the function of giving a voltage
obtained by averaging motor terminal voltages. Alternatively the
resistive element may be replaced by another element or circuit in
the resistor circuit 17.
[0060] A PWM signal generator 45 outputs to the commutation
controller 22 a pulse signal having a pulse width controlled, in a
peak detection method on the basis of a motor current detected by a
current detection resistor 28. The PWM signal generator 45 has a
pulse generator 20 for outputting a pulse signal having a
predetermined pulse width, a PWM controller 21 for receives the
output from the pulse generator 20 as a set signal, a comparator 23
for outputting a reset signal to the PWM controller 21, and a phase
torque command signal generator 24 for generating a torque control
signal on the basis of an eternal command signal. The PWM signal
generator 45 further includes a search command signal generator 25
for setting an amplitude value of a search pulse; and a start
command signal generator 26 which sets an amplitude value of a
rotation start pulse. A detected value of the motor current,
detected by the current detection resistor 28 and amplified by the
current detection amplifier 27, is provided to the comparator
23.
[0061] A rotor position detection circuit 50 has two sampling data
storage units 51 and 52 for storing sampling data of virtual
difference voltage, an synthesizer 53 for adding up (synthesize)
the stored sampling data of the virtual difference voltages, a
polarity determination unit 54 for determining a polarity of the
added virtual difference voltages, data storage units 55 to 57 for
storing results of the polarity determination, and a rotor position
determination unit 58 for determining a rotor position on the basis
of the data stored in the data storage units 55 to 57. The rotor
position detecting circuit 50 outputs the determined rotor position
information to the commutation controller 22.
[0062] FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of the virtual
difference voltage detector 40. The virtual difference voltage
detector 40 receives a voltage signal A1 of the actual neutral
point CN1 which is a common node of the motor coils 10 to 12 and a
voltage signal A2 of the virtual neutral point CN2, and outputs a
voltage showing a difference therebetween. As shown in FIG. 2, the
virtual difference voltage detector 40 includes a difference
voltage detecting circuit (which includes resistors and amplifiers)
having a level shit function, and an ADC (AD converter) and voltage
measurement circuit 44.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows another specific configuration of the virtual
difference voltage detector 40. The configuration shown in FIG. 3
is different from that shown in FIG. 2 in the followings. In the
configuration shown in FIG. 3, the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 does not have a level shift function. The virtual
difference voltage detector receives, as input of ADC 44, a voltage
signal A2 of the virtual neutral point CN2 in the register circuit
17 and a signal A5 which is a voltage generated in non-conduction
phase. In this case, input range of the ADC 44 needs one third to
two third of a voltage of a motor power supply section. Thus the
necessary input voltage range of the ADC 44 is one third of the
motor power supply section.
[0064] Since the virtual difference voltage detector 40 shown in
FIG. 2 has a level shift function, the input range of the ADC 44
needs about zero to one eighth of the motor power supply section.
Thus the necessary input voltage range of the ADC 44 is one eighth
of the motor power supply section (when a voltage of the motor
power supply section and controller is about 5V, and the amplitude
of the virtual difference voltage is about 0.6V). That is, the
virtual difference voltage detector 40 shown in FIG. 2 includes a
differential amplification circuit with a level shift function, and
it can control the input voltage range to the ADC independently
from the power supply voltage which determines the driving
amplitude of the motor driver. Thus necessary accuracy and function
of the ADC can be reduced, and it is more suitable for the
autonomous control only with the motor and an inexpensive motor
driving system.
[0065] FIG. 4A shows a specific configuration example of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36. The back electromotive voltage
detector 36 includes a comparator 34 and a selection circuit 32.
The selection circuit 32 includes respective switches serially
connected to the motor coils 10 to 12. In the selection circuit 32,
any of the switches can be selected to detect a back electromotive
voltage of any of the U-phase, the V-phase and the W-phase. The
switch selection in the selection circuit 32 is controlled by the
commutation controller 22 capable of recognizing which phase is a
non-conduction phase. In a back electromotive voltage feedback
mode, the back electromotive voltage detector 36 reads a back
electromotive voltage from a coil terminal of the non-conduction
phase through the selection circuit 32. In the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, the comparator 34 is used as a comparator
for comparing back electromotive voltages while an absolute value
of a threshold of the comparator 34 being reduced or removed. A
zero-cross of the back electromotive voltage is detected from a
coil terminal of a predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32 at timing when the zero-cross is expected to
appear.
[0066] Further, a configuration shown in FIG. 4B can also be
thought of as another example of the back electromotive voltage
detector. In the back electromotive voltage detector 36 shown in
FIG. 4A the phase for detecting the back electromotive voltage is
selected by the selection circuit 32. In the back electromotive
voltage detector 36b shown in FIG. 4B, each comparator directly
reads a back electromotive voltage from the motor coil of the
non-conduction phase. Namely, the back electromotive voltage
detector 36b has, in each phase, a comparator for detecting the
back electromotive voltage from the coil terminal of the
non-conduction phase. Also in this case, the comparator is used as
a comparator for comparing back electromotive voltages with an
absolute value of a threshold of the comparator being reduced or
removed in the back electromotive voltage feedback mode.
[0067] It is to be noted that, when the two-phase conduction is
performed, as a voltage generated in the non-conduction phase
(potential difference between the coil terminal and the actual
neutral point CN1), there is a voltage generated by a magnetic flux
of the rotor across the motor coil due to rotation of the rotor,
and a voltage generated by a change in current in the conduction
phases with time. In the following description, the former voltage
generated by the rotation of the rotor is referred to as a "back
electromotive voltage", and the latter voltage generated by the
current change is referred to as an "induced voltage".
[0068] FIG. 4C shows a specific configuration of the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 and the selection circuit 33. In the
searching start mode, only a motor coil (terminal line) of
non-conduction phase is connected to the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 through the selection circuit 33. At this time, the
virtual difference voltage is read from a terminal of the motor
coil of a non-conduction phase, with reference to the voltage of
the virtual neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17. In the
searching start mode, the differential amplification circuit in the
virtual difference voltage detector 40 is used while an offset
voltage thereof is being adjusted. At this time, the virtual
difference voltage is detected from the motor coil (coil terminal)
of the predetermined non-conduction phase through the selection
circuit 33 at a timing when the virtual difference voltage is
significantly output.
2. Operation of Motor Driving Apparatus
[0069] The operation of the motor driving apparatus having the
above-mentioned configuration is described as follows. It is to be
noted that in the following description, the direction of "U-phase
V-phase.fwdarw.W-phase.fwdarw.U-phase . . . " is referred to as a
forward direction. The motor driving apparatus of the present
embodiment has the "searching start mode" for accelerating the
motor while searching a motor position, and the "back electromotive
voltage feedback mode" for controlling commutation while
recognizing the motor position by means of the back electromotive
voltage.
[0070] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of operation of the motor driving
apparatus at the start thereof in the present embodiment. The motor
driving apparatus operates in the "searching start mode" of
accelerating the motor while searching the motor position, in a
positional slow rotational region including the start of the motor
(S1). The searching start mode includes a "rotor position searching
process" for detecting the rotor position, and a "rotation start
torque applying process" for applying a rotation torque to the
motor at the start thereof. When a condition for a mode shift to
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode is satisfied in the
searching start mode (S2), the mode is shifted to the "back
electromotive voltage feedback mode" (S3). The condition for the
mode shift to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode is, for
example, whether or not the motor speed has reached or exceeds a
fixed speed. When sufficient initial acceleration can be obtained
in the first rotor position searching process, it may be arranged
in advance to shift the mode from the searching start mode to the
back electromotive voltage feedback mode just after the first rotor
position searching process. Namely, in the region where the back
electromotive voltage generated by rotation of the rotor can be
stably detected to perform commutation control, the motor driving
apparatus operates in the back electromotive voltage feedback mode
(S3) of controlling commutation while recognizing the motor
position by means of the back electromotive voltage.
[0071] In the present embodiment, after providing starting
acceleration to the motor in the searching start mode, the mode is
shifted to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode. In the
searching start mode, the rotor position searching process and the
rotation start torque applying process are repeated to provide the
motor with the initial acceleration. Providing the motor with
appropriate initial acceleration for shifting the mode to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode leads to prevention of
erroneous detection in zero-cross determination of the back
electromotive voltage so as to prevent starting failure, erroneous
operation, and the like. Particularly in the present embodiment, in
the searching start mode, a difference voltage between the terminal
of motor coil of non-conduction phase and the virtual neutral point
of the resistor circuit provided in parallel with the motor coils
is detected, and the motor position is determined on the basis of
the detected difference voltage. Since this difference voltage has
a large amplitude and is not affected by noise, the positional
information can be detected only by the characteristic of the
induced voltage generated in the motor coil, thereby allowing more
accurate determination of the position. Specific operations of the
searching start mode and the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode are described below.
2-1 Searching Start Mode
[0072] When the motor is in the extremely slow rotation region
immediately after the start, the driving apparatus operates in the
searching start mode (Step S1 in FIG. 5). The searching start mode
performs alternately the "rotor position searching process" of
applying a rotor position search pulse to the motor coil and
searching a rotor position by means of a response signal to the
pulse and the "rotation start torque applying process" of providing
a rotation start torque to the rotor of which position has been
revealed, resulting in acceleration of the start. Those two
processes are alternately repeated to accelerate the start. In the
searching start mode, the commutation controller 22 selects two
terminals out of a U-phase terminal, a V-phase terminal and a
W-phase terminal of the three phase coils, to apply the rotor
position search pulse between the selected two terminals.
[0073] In the following, respective operations of the rotor
position searching process and the rotation start torque applying
process are specifically described.
2-1-1 Virtual Difference Voltage
[0074] In the present embodiment, the rotor position is determined
on the basis of a virtual difference voltage which is a difference
between a terminal voltage of the motor coil 10 to 12 of
non-conduction phase and the neutral point (virtual neutral point)
CN2 of the resistor circuit 17 connected in parallel to the motor
coils 10 to 12.
[0075] The virtual difference voltage is explained below with
reference to FIG. 6. The abscissa represents a relative position of
the rotor with respect to a position (1.50 degrees) at which the
rotor is rocked by a constant current flowing from the motor
terminal U to the motor terminal V. The same reference of the
abscissa applies to other drawings.
[0076] FIG. 6A shows a measurement result by the inventor of the
present application, which shows characteristic obtained when a
higher voltage than V-phase voltage is applied to the terminal of
the U-phase coil for such an extremely short period of time that
the rotor is not reacted and remains still, with the rotor position
search pulse in two phase conduction applying to a general
three-phase brushless motor. It is noted that in the following
description, application of the rotor position search pulse is made
similarly. That is, FIG. 6A is a view showing the relation among an
induced voltage, neutral point voltage, and virtual difference
voltage.
[0077] In FIG. 6A, the induced voltage is represented by .DELTA.V1.
FIG. 6A is drawn by plotting a difference voltage between a voltage
at a actual neural point CN1 and a voltage generated at the motor
coil of non-conduction phase (W-phase in this embodiment) with
reference to a voltage at the actual neutral point CN1 in two-phase
conduction, in a relative position of the rotor to the stator. With
reference to FIG. 6B, the induced voltage .DELTA.V1 is represented
by the following equation: Induced .times. .times. voltage .times.
.times. .DELTA. .times. .times. V .times. .times. 1 = .times. Vow -
Vct = .times. ( Voltage .times. .times. of .times. .times. non
.times. - .times. conduction .times. .times. phase .times. .times.
( ex . .times. W .times. - .times. phase ) - .times. Voltage
.times. .times. at .times. .times. the .times. .times. actual
.times. .times. neutral .times. .times. point .times. .times. CN
.times. .times. 1 ) . ##EQU1##
[0078] In FIG. 6A, the neutral point difference voltage is
represented by .DELTA.V2. FIG. 6A is drawn by plotting a difference
voltage between a voltage at a virtual neural point CN2 and a
voltage at the actual neutral point CN with reference to a voltage
at the virtual neutral point CN2 connecting resisters in the
resister circuit 17 in two-phase conduction, in a relative position
of the rotor to the stator. With reference to FIG. 6B, the neutral
point difference voltage .DELTA.V2 is represented by the following
equation: Neutral .times. .times. point difference .times. .times.
voltage .times. .times. .DELTA. .times. .times. V .times. .times. 2
= .times. Vct - Vct .times. .times. 0 = .times. ( Voltage .times.
.times. at .times. .times. the .times. .times. actual .times.
.times. neutral .times. .times. point .times. .times. CN .times.
.times. 1 - .times. Voltage .times. .times. at .times. .times. the
.times. .times. actual .times. .times. neutral .times. .times.
point .times. .times. CN .times. .times. 2 ) . ##EQU2##
[0079] In FIG. 6A, the virtual difference voltage is represented by
.DELTA.V3. FIG. 6A is drawn by plotting a difference voltage
between a voltage at a virtual neural point CN2 and a voltage
generated at the motor coil of non-conduction phase (W-phase in
this embodiment) with reference to a voltage at the virtual neutral
point CN2 in two-phase conduction, in a relative position of the
rotor to the stator. With reference to FIG. 6B, the virtual
difference voltage .DELTA.V3 is represented by the following
equation: Virtual .times. .times. difference voltage .times.
.times. .DELTA. .times. .times. V .times. .times. 3 = .times. Vow -
Vct .times. .times. 0 = .times. ( Voltage .times. .times. of
.times. .times. non .times. - .times. conduction .times. .times.
phase .times. .times. ( ex . .times. W .times. - .times. phase ) -
.times. Voltage .times. .times. at .times. .times. the .times.
.times. actual .times. .times. neutral .times. .times. point
.times. .times. CN .times. .times. 2 ) . ##EQU3##
[0080] The waveform of the virtual difference voltage .DELTA.V3 has
the almost the same waveform of sum of the induced voltage
.DELTA.V1 and the neutral point difference voltage .DELTA.V2. It is
expressed by the following equation: Virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.V3.apprxeq..DELTA.V1+.DELTA.V2.
[0081] From FIG. 6A, the waveform of the virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.V3 has larger amplitude than that of the induced voltage or
the neutral point difference voltage. The virtual difference
voltage .DELTA.V3 has better noise-resistance and a wider range for
detection compared to the induced voltage .DELTA.V1 or the neutral
point difference voltage .DELTA.V2, and is available for a rotor
position information signal. That is, it is understood that the
virtual difference voltage has excellent characteristic. The
present invention uses the signal of the virtual difference voltage
having such excellent characteristic for a detection signal of a
rotor initial position in the searching start mode or a rotor
position signal. Thus noise-resistance can be improved and a dead
point can be eliminated in detection of a rotor initial position
for a three-phase motor.
[0082] Although in the present embodiment, the commutation
controller 22 controls the motor driving apparatus in a current
driving method, it is apparent from FIG. 6B that a voltage driving
method can also be applied which can provide the same operation and
effects. Thus those skilled in the art could apply the concept of
the invention about the sensorless control which uses the virtual
difference voltage as a signal for detecting the initial rotor
position to a sensorless control technique with a controller
performing a voltage control.
[0083] The present embodiment describes an example of a motor
driving in a back electromotive voltage feedback method which uses
a back electromotive voltage in the sensorless control with the
rotating motor. The concept of the present invention can also be
applied to a sensorless control in a power factor control method
which drives a motor by synchronizing phases of driving voltage and
driving current.
[0084] The concept of the present invention can be applied to the
sensorless control disclosed by the following patent documents.
[0085] Japanese patent No. 3239426, sensorless control which
detects current phase with ACCT and filter. [0086] JP-A-2001-54295,
sensorless control which detects phase difference with area of a
current. [0087] JP-A-2001-258287, sensorless control which detect a
phase of a current with existence or nonexistence of a phase
current. [0088] JP-A-2000-201495, sensorless control which detect a
phase of a current with terminal voltages for turned-off switching
elements on upper and lower arms. [0089] JP-A-11-314870, sensorless
control which detect a phase of a current with polarity of a
voltage of Vds of an output element.
[0090] That is, The concept of the present invention can be applied
to sensorless control which is suitable for sin wave drive or
so.
[0091] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing response of virtual
difference voltages obtained by applying the rotor position search
pulses to two phases in a three-phase brushless motor. In the
figure, the virtual difference voltage which is a difference
voltage between a voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 and a
terminal voltage of the motor coil 10 to 12 of non-conduction phase
is plotted in the relative position of the rotor to the stator.
[0092] FIG. 7A shows a waveform of virtual difference voltage
measured upon application of the rotor position search pulse in
two-phase conduction. The ordinate represents the virtual
difference voltage with respect to a voltage at the virtual neutral
point CN2 (0 mV). The abscissa represents a relative position of
the rotor with respect to a position (150 degrees) at which the
rotor is rocked by a constant current flowing from the motor
terminal U to the motor terminal V. Such a relative position of the
rotor is simply referred to as "rotor position". The same reference
of the abscissa applies to later-described FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 13, 16,
17, 18, 19, 22 and 23. The rotor position search pulse is applied
by the two-phase conduction. In the case of a waveform A in FIG.
7A, with the U-phase taken as a source phase and the V-phase as a
sink phase, the rotor position search pulse is applied for
extremely short period of time or in very small amount so that the
rotor remains still. Further, in the case of a waveform B in FIG.
7A, with the V-phase taken as the source phase and the U-phase as
the sink phase, the rotor position search pulse is applied for an
extremely short period of time or in very small amount so that the
rotor remains still.
[0093] Here, the source phase is a phase which allows the motor
current to flow from the inverter circuit 30 to the motor coil, and
the sink phase is a phase which allows the motor current to flow
from the motor coil into the inverter circuit 30. Further, a source
current is the motor current in the source phase, and a sink
current is the motor current in the sink phase.
[0094] In FIG. 7A, the waveform A and the waveform B represent
virtual difference voltages. It is to be noted that allowing the
current pulse to flow with the U-phase taken as the source phase
and the V-phase taken as the sink phase, as shown by the waveform A
in FIG. 7A, is expressed by "UV". Further, allowing the current
pulse to flow with the V-phase taken as the source phase and the
U-phase taken as the sink phase, as shown by the waveform B in FIG.
7A, is expressed by "VU". Similarly, allowing a current pulse to
flow from the source phase to the sink phase is expressed by
"(source phase)(sink phase)". Here, each of the (source phase) and
the (sink phase) is any one of U, V and W. "(source phase)(sink
phase)" represents that the conduction phases in allowing the
current pulse to flow are the (source phase) and the (sink phase),
and the current pulse flows in a direction from the (source phase)
to the (sink phase). Here, the rotor position search pulse is also
referred to as a "direction in which the current pulse is allowed
to flow", and expressed by "(source phase)(sink phase)".
[0095] In FIG. 7A, the waveform A shows a result of measurement of
a virtual difference voltage which is a difference voltage between
the voltage of motor coin in non-conduction phase and the virtual
neutral point CN2 when the rotor position search pulse is applied
in the forward direction from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil.
The waveform B shows a result of measurement of a virtual
difference voltage when the rotor position search pulse is applied
in the backward direction from the V-phase coil to the U-phase
coil. The solid line A in FIG. 7A is equal to a waveform .DELTA.V3
in FIG. 6A.
[0096] FIG. 7B is a view showing a result (A+B) of adding the
forward direction characteristic (A) and the backward direction
characteristic (B) of the virtual difference voltage in application
of the rotor position search pulse between the U-phase coil and the
V-phase coil shown in FIG. 7A. Such addition and synthesis of the
forward direction characteristic (A) and the backward direction
characteristic (B) of the virtual difference voltage is performed
by the synthesizer 53.
[0097] It is to be noted that the ordinate of FIGS. 7A and 7B show
the virtual difference voltage (mV). The electrical angle on the
abscissa of FIGS. 7A and 7B is shown with a position where the
rotor is rocked by the constant current flowing from the U-phase
terminal to the V-phase terminal, as 150 degrees. This applies to
other similar drawings.
[0098] More specifically, the waveform A of FIG. 7A is drawn by
plotting a virtual difference voltage which is a difference voltage
between a voltage generated at the motor coil of W-phase as
non-conduction phase and a virtual neutral point CN2 with reference
to a voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 when a high voltage
(rotor position search pulse) is applied from the V-phase coil to
the U-phase coil for such an extremely short period of time that
the rotor is not reacted and remains still, in a relative position
of the rotor to the stator.
[0099] Further, the waveform B of FIG. 7A is drawn by plotting a
virtual difference voltage which is a difference voltage between a
voltage generated at the motor coil of W-phase as non-conduction
phase and a virtual neutral point CN2 with reference to a voltage
at the virtual neutral point CN2 when a high voltage is applied
from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil for such an extremely
short period of time that the rotor is not reacted and remains
still, in a relative position of the rotor to the stator.
[0100] As for the waveform A of FIG. 7A, large peaks Bm and Pm are
seen at about 110 and 190 degrees, respectively. The peak Bm at
about 110 degrees is referred to as a "main bottom", and the peak
Pm at about 190 degrees is referred to as a "main peak".
[0101] Similarly, as for the waveform B, large peaks Bm and Pm are
seen at about 10 and 290 degrees, respectively. The peak Bm at
about 10 degrees is referred to as a "main bottom", and the peak Pm
at about 290 degrees is referred to as a "main peak". In addition,
although not shown in the figure, a virtual difference voltage
generated when the current pulse is controlled to flow from the
V-phase coil to the W-phase coil and a virtual difference voltage
generated when the current pulse is controlled to flow from the
W-phase coil to the U-phase coil take a profile formed by shifting
the plots of the solid line A of FIG. 7A by .+-.120 degrees.
Further, a virtual difference voltage generated when the current
pulse is allowed to flow from the W-phase coil to the V-phase coil
and a virtual difference voltage generated when the current pulse
is controlled to flow from the U-phase coil to the W-phase coil
take a profile formed by shifting the plots of the solid line B of
FIG. 7A by .+-.120 degrees.
[0102] As shown in FIG. 7A, for the rotor position the central
positions (190 degrees, 290 degrees) of the main peaks Pm and the
central positions (10 degrees, 110 degrees) of the main bottom Bm,
which are obtained by the two-phase conduction, are slightly
displaced from desired values. Here, the desired values are rotor
positions at every electrical angle of 60 degrees such as 60, 120,
180, 240, 330, or 360(0) degrees. On the other hand, in FIG. 7B,
the central position of the added main bottom Bm and the central
position of the added main peak Pm are respectively 60 and 240
degrees, which are found to be almost equal to the desired values.
The horizontal broken line in FIG. 7B shows a predetermined
threshold (zero in this case) for determining a polarity of the
result of addition of virtual difference voltages. Namely, it is
recognized that the waveform A+B shows a positive value higher than
the threshold (zero) for a period T between electrical angles of
150 and 330 degrees, and shows a negative value less than the
threshold (zero) between electrical angles of 0 degree and 150
degrees and between electrical angles of 330 degrees and 360
degrees (0 degree).
2-1-2 Relation between Polarity of Virtual Difference Voltage and
Torque Constant
[0103] FIGS. 8A to 8C shows the relation between torque constants
and polarity determination outputs of voltages (hereinafter
referred to as "added difference voltage") E1, E2, E3, which are
obtained by adding a pair of virtual difference voltages obtained
in different conducting directions.
[0104] The waveforms of FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show outputs of the
polarity determination unit 54 as shown in FIG. 7B. The polarity
determination unit 54 determines a polarity of an added waveform
obtained by bidirectional application of the rotor position search
pulse between the two-phase coils, and then outputs the
determination result. Here, "E1" is an added difference voltage
obtained by adding respective virtual difference voltages caused by
application of the rotor position search pulse in the forward and
backward directions between the U-phase coil and the V-phase coil.
"E2" is an added difference voltage obtained by adding respective
virtual difference voltages caused by application of the rotor
position search pulse in the forward and backward directions
between the V-phase coil and the W-phase coil. "E3" is an added
difference voltage obtained by adding respective virtual difference
voltages caused by application of the rotor position search pulse
in the forward and backward directions between the W-phase coil and
the U-phase coil. The results of the added difference voltages E1,
E2, E3 are stored into the data storage units 55, 56, 57,
respectively.
[0105] FIG. 8A shows a polarity determination output of the added
difference voltage E1 with regard to conduction between the U-phase
and the V-phase. In FIG. 8A, it is clear that the added difference
voltage E1 shows a positive value between electrical angles of 150
and 330 degrees and shows a negative value between electrical
angles of 0 degree and 150 degrees and between electrical angles of
330 degree and 360 degrees (0 degree).
[0106] Similarly, FIG. 8B shows a polarity determination output of
the added difference voltage E2 with regard to conduction between
the V-phase and the W-phase. In FIG. 8B, it is clear that the added
difference voltage E2 shows a positive value between electrical
angles of 0 degree and 90 degrees and between electrical angles of
270 degree and 360 degrees (0 degree), and shows a negative value
between electrical angles of 90 and 270 degrees.
[0107] FIG. 8C shows a polarity determination output of the added
difference voltage E3 with regard to conduction between the W-phase
and the U-phase. In FIG. 8C, it is clear that the added difference
voltage E3 shows a positive value between electrical angles of 30
and 210 degrees, and shows a negative value between electrical
angles of 0 degree and 30 degrees and between electrical angles of
210 degree and 360 degrees (0 degree).
[0108] It is to be noted that in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the electrical
angle, at which the back electromotive voltage begins to occur in
the forward direction from the U-phase coil with reference to the
neutral point voltage of the motor coils, is arranged to be 0
degree.
[0109] In FIGS. 8A to 8C, Tu, Tv, Tw respectively represent torque
constants of the U-phase motor coil, the V-phase motor coil and the
W-phase motor coil. The torque constant represents a torque
obtained with respect to the motor current flowing through the
motor coil by the ratio. In a case where the torque constant of a
certain phase is positive, when the source current is controlled to
flow through the corresponding motor coil, the torque is generated
in the forward rotational direction and the rotor is accelerated.
In a case where the torque constant of a certain phase is negative,
when the sink current is allowed to flow through the corresponding
motor coil, the torque is generated in the forward rotational
direction and the rotor is accelerated.
[0110] For example, in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the V-phase torque constant
Tv is positive and the W-phase torque constant Tw is negative
during a period when the polarity of E1 is positive, the polarity
of E2 is negative and the polarity of E3 is positive. Thus, the
torque is generated in the forward rotational direction, by
applying, in the direction of VW, the current pulse having such an
amplitude or for such a period of time that the rotor starts to
move. Similarly, the U-phase torque constant Tu is positive and the
W-phase torque constant Tw is negative during a period when the
polarity of E1 is negative, the polarity of E2 is negative and the
polarity of E3 is positive. Thus, the torque is generated in the
forward rotational direction by applying, in the direction of UW,
the current pulse having such an amplitude or for such a period of
time that the rotor starts to move.
[0111] Similarly, in FIGS. 8A to 8C, when applying the current
pulse, having such an amplitude or for such a period of time that
the rotor starts to move, in the direction of WU during a period
when the polarity of E1 is positive, the polarity of E2 is positive
and the polarity of E3 is negative, or in the direction of WV
during a period when the polarity of E1 is negative, the polarity
of E2 is positive and the polarity of E3 is negative, the torque is
generated in the forward rotational direction. Here, the conduction
phases in the forward rotational direction of which torque is
generated during the stoppage of the rotor are referred to as
"start conduction phases of the rotation start pulse"), and
expressed by "(source phase)(sink phase)".
[0112] In FIGS. 8A to 8C, the position where the rotor is rocked is
set to 150 degrees when the constant current is controlled to flow
from the U-phase motor coil to the V-phase motor coil, as the
reference of the abscissa, as in the case of FIG. 7. In the case of
FIGS. 8A to 8C, this 150-degree position is a rotor position where
the U-phase torque constant Tu and the V-phase torque constant Tv
are both positive and have a consistent magnitude. Namely, this
position is a point at which the U-phase torque constant Tu and the
V-phase torque constant Tv intersect in the positive region. With
the rotor located at this position, even when the source current is
controlled to flow through the U-phase and the sink current is
controlled to flow through the V-phase, the rotor remains still and
is rocked since the magnitudes of the source current and the sink
current agree with each other. As thus described, the foregoing
reference of the abscissa correspond to the waveforms of the torque
constants Tu, Tv, Tw in FIGS. 8A to 8C. In this figure, the U-phase
torque constant Tu begins to be generated in the forward direction
with the rotor position located at 0 degree. In this case, the back
electromotive voltage of the U-phase motor coil also begins to be
generated in the forward direction with reference to the neutral
point voltage, at the rotor position 0 degree.
[0113] In FIGS. 8A to 8C, Tu, Tv and Tw represent torque constants
of the U-phase coil, the V-phase coil and the W-phase coil.
[0114] In a case where the torque constants are positive values,
when the current is controlled to flow from the terminal of the
motor coil to the actual neutral point CN1, the torque is generated
in the forward rotational direction, to accelerate the rotor. In a
case where the torque constants are negative values, when the
current is controlled to flow from the actual neutral point CN1 to
the terminal of the motor coil, the torque is generated in the
backward rotational direction, to accelerate the rotor.
[0115] For example, in FIGS. 8A to 8C, Tw is a positive value and
Tv is a negative value in a range where the polarity of E1 is
negative, the polarity of E2 is positive and the polarity of E3 is
negative. Therefore, the torque is generated in the forward
rotational direction by controlling the current to flow for such a
period that the rotor can be reacted from the W-phase coil toward
the V-phase coil.
[0116] Similarly, since Tu is a positive value and Tv is a negative
value in a range where the polarity of E1 is negative, the polarity
of E2 is positive and the polarity of E3 is positive. Therefore,
the torque is generated in the forward rotational direction by
controlling the current to flow for such a period that the rotor
can be reacted from the U-phase coil toward the V-phase coil.
[0117] Similarly, since Tu is a positive value and Tw is a negative
value in a range where the polarity of E1 is negative, the polarity
of E2 is negative and the polarity of E3 is positive. Therefore,
the torque is generated in the forward rotational direction by
controlling the current to flow for such a period that the rotor
can be reacted from the U-phase coil toward the W-phase coil.
[0118] Similarly, since Tv is a positive value and Tw is a negative
value in a range where the polarity of E1 is positive, the polarity
of E2 is negative and the polarity of E3 is positive. Therefore,
the torque is generated in the forward rotational direction by
controlling the current to flow for such a period that the rotor
can be reacted from the V-phase coil toward the W-phase coil.
[0119] Similarly, since Tv is a positive value and Tu is a negative
value in a range where the polarity of E1 is positive, the polarity
of E2 is negative and the polarity of E3 is negative. Therefore,
the torque is generated in the forward rotational direction by
controlling the current to flow for such a period that the rotor
can be reacted from the V-phase coil toward the U-phase coil.
[0120] Similarly, since Tw is a positive value and Tu is a negative
value in a range where the polarity of E1 is positive, the polarity
of E2 is positive and the polarity of E3 is negative. Therefore,
the torque is generated in the forward rotational direction by
controlling the current to flow for such a period that the rotor
can be reacted from the W-phase coil toward the U-phase coil.
[0121] The conduction phases in the forward rotational direction of
which the torque is generated during the stoppage of the rotor are
hereinafter referred to as "start conduction phases of the rotation
start pulse".
2-1-3 Relation between Polarity of Virtual Difference Voltage and
Rotor Detectable Position
[0122] FIG. 9 is a view showing the relation between the
combination of polarities of the added difference voltages E1, E2,
E3 shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C and to the rotor detectable
position.
[0123] In other words, FIG. 9 shows rotor position detectable
positions with outputs obtained by polarity determinations of
results E1, E2 and E3 which are obtained by adding virtual point
difference voltages generated by application of the rotor position
searching pulses in the forward and backward directions in
searching the rotor position by the two-phase conduction. FIG. 9
indicates that the torque can be generated in the forward
rotational direction by controlling the current to flow in the
following phase direction in each region. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1
Region Conduction Direction E1: negative, E2: positive, E3:
negative From W-phase to V-phase E1: negative, E2: positive, E3:
positive From U-phase to V-phase E1: negative, E2: negative, E3:
positive From U-phase to W-phase E1: positive, E2: negative, E3:
positive From V-phase to W-phase E1: positive, E2: negative, E3:
negative From V-phase to U-phase E1: positive, E2: positive, E3:
negative From W-phase to U-phase
[0124] In the above, "E1: negative" means that the polarity of E1
is negative, in which E1 is a result of adding virtual difference
voltages generated at W-phase by controlling the current of the
rotor position search pulse to flow both in the forward and
backward directions between the U-phase coil and the V-phase coil.
"E2: positive" means that the polarity of E2 is positive, in which
E2 is a result of adding virtual difference voltages generated at
U-phase by controlling the current of the rotor position search
pulse to flow both in the forward and backward directions between
the V-phase coil and the W-phase coil. "E3: negative" means that
the polarity of E3 is negative, in which E3 is a result of adding
virtual difference voltages generated at V-phase by controlling the
current of the rotor position search pulse to flow both in the
forward and backward directions between the W-phase coil and the
U-phase coil.
2-1-4 Detection and Polarity Determination of Virtual Difference
Voltage
[0125] FIGS. 10A and 10B show the relation among the current pulse
conducting direction (combination of conduction phases and
conducting direction), the virtual difference voltage by the
virtual difference voltage detector 40, the added difference
voltage value E1, E2 and E3, and the start conduction phase of the
rotation start pulse on the basis of output of the polarity
determination of E1, E2 and E3, in the rotor position determination
which is achieved by the rotor position search pulse in the
two-phase conduction.
[0126] FIG. 10A is a view showing the relation among the conducting
direction of the current pulse in the forward and backward
directions, the virtual difference voltage .DELTA.Vc1, .DELTA.Vc2 .
. . , by the virtual difference voltage detector 40, and the added
difference voltage E1, E2 and E3 thereto, in the rotor position
determination which is obtained by the rotor position search pulse
in the two-phase conduction.
[0127] FIG. 10B is a view showing the relation among the polarity
of E1, E2 and E3, the rotor position to be determined, and the
start conduction phase of a rotation start pulse. In the present
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10B, the start conduction phases of
the rotation start pulse (conduction phases for forwardly rotating
the rotor) are switched in the order of UV, UW, VW, VU, WU, WV, UV.
The symbol "" shows the direction in which a current is allowed to
flow in the start conduction phases of the rotation start pulse.
Further, the symbol "" is also used at a point where the state
transition of the polarity of E1, E2 or E3 is reversed every time
the rotor position forwardly rotates an electrical angle of 60
degrees.
[0128] In the searching start mode, the commutation controller 22
selects two phases out of the three phases of the U-phase, the
V-phase and the W-phase, and applies the rotor position search
pulse between the two selected phases.
[0129] First, in <1> of FIG. 10A, a voltage signal of the
virtual neutral point CN2 and a voltage signal generated at the
motor coil of W-phase which is non-conduction phase are inputted
into the virtual difference voltage detector 40 in order to measure
the virtual difference voltage when the rotor position search pulse
is applied in the forward directions of the coils of the two
selected phases (U-phase, V-phase) to make the current pulse flow
from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil. These signals are
inputted into a differential amplification circuit. Here, the
differential amplification circuit includes four resistors R1 and
R2. When the voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 to be
inputted is A2, the voltage generated at the motor coil of W-phase
which is non-conduction phase is A5 and an offset voltage of the
input buffer can be ignored, an output Vo of the differential
amplification circuit is expressed by the following expression:
Vo=(R2/R1).times.(A1-A5)+V.sub.offset.
[0130] When the ratio of resistance values between the resistor R1
and the resistor R2 is set to 1, .DELTA.Vc as a virtual difference
voltage signal is expressed by the following expression:
.DELTA.Vc=Vo-V.sub.offset=A1-A5.
[0131] The differential amplification circuit outputs the voltage
V.sub.offset and the voltage Vo to provide the virtual difference
voltage between the voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 and
the voltage of the motor coil of W-phase which is non-conduction
phase. The ADC and the voltage measurement circuit 44 uses a timing
signal from the commutation controller 22 to appropriately sample
the voltage V.sub.offset and the voltage Vo, and processes them to
output .DELTA.Vc1 (=V.sub.offset-Vo=A1-A2) as the virtual
difference voltage. The ADC and the voltage measurement circuit 44
then uses the timing signal from the commutation controller 22 to
sample .DELTA.Vc1 as the virtual difference voltage, and
temporarily stores the sampling data in the sampling data storage
unit 51.
[0132] Next, in order to measure the virtual difference voltage
obtained by application of the rotor position search pulse in the
backward direction between the two selected phases, namely from the
V-phase coil to the U-phase coil, the voltage signal of the virtual
neutral point CN2 and the voltage of the motor coil of W-phase
which is non-conduction phase are inputted into the virtual
difference voltage detector 40. In the same manner as described
above, the ADC and the voltage measurement circuit 44 outputs
.DELTA.Vc2 as the virtual difference voltage. The ADC and the
voltage measurement circuit 44 then uses the timing signal from the
commutation controller 22 to sample .DELTA.Vc2 as the virtual
difference voltage, and temporarily stores the sampling data in a
sampling data storage unit 52.
[0133] Next, using the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22, .DELTA.Vc1 and .DELTA.Vc2 are added by the
synthesizer 53. A polarity of the addition result E1
(.DELTA.Vc1+.DELTA.Vc2) is determined by the polarity determination
unit 54, and using the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22, the determination result is temporarily stored in an
E1 data storage unit 55.
[0134] Next, in <2> of FIG. 10A, the voltage signal of the
virtual neutral point CN2 and the terminal voltage of the motor
coil of non-conduction phase are inputted into the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 in order that the rotor position
search pulse is applied in the forward direction of the coils of
the two selected phases (V-phase, W-phase) to measure the virtual
difference voltage to be generated when the current pulse is
controlled to flow from the V-phase coil to the W-phase coil.
[0135] In the virtual difference voltage detector 40, the
differential amplification circuit outputs the voltage V.sub.offset
and the voltage Vo to provide the difference voltage between the
voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 and the voltage of the
motor coil of non-conduction phase. The ADC and the voltage
measurement circuit 44 uses the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22 to appropriately sample the voltage V.sub.offset and
the voltage Vo, and processes them to output .DELTA.Vc3
(=V.sub.offset-Vo=A1-A2) as the virtual difference voltage. The ADC
and the voltage measurement circuit 44 then uses the timing signal
from the commutation controller 22 to sample .DELTA.Vc3 as the
virtual difference voltage, and temporarily stores the sampling
data in the sampling data storage unit 51.
[0136] Next, in the same manner as above, the current pulse is
controlled to flow in the backward direction, namely from the
W-phase coil to the V-phase coil, to measure a virtual difference
voltage .DELTA.Vc4, and the sampling data is stored in the sampling
data storage unit 52.
[0137] The synthesizer 53 reads .DELTA.Vc3 and .DELTA.Vc4 which are
stored in the sampling data storage units 51, 52, and then adds the
read values. A polarity of the addition result E2 is determined by
the polarity determination unit 54, and the determination result is
stored into an E2 data storage unit 56.
[0138] Next, in <3> of FIG. 10A, the W-phase and the U-phase
are selected, and subsequently, in the same manner as above,
virtual difference voltages .DELTA.Vc5 and .DELTA.Vc6 in
application of the rotor position search pulse in the forward and
backward directions are detected. Detected .DELTA.Vc5 and
.DELTA.Vc6 are then stored into the sampling data storage units 51
and 52. Thereafter, the virtual difference voltages .DELTA.Vc5 and
.DELTA.Vc6 are added by the synthesizer 53, and a polarity of the
addition result E3 is determined by the polarity determination unit
54, and the determination result is stored into an E3 data storage
unit 57.
[0139] .DELTA.Vc1, .DELTA.Vc2, .DELTA.Vc3, .DELTA.Vc4, .DELTA.Vc5
and .DELTA.Vc6 as the virtual difference voltages can be obtained
only from the difference voltage between the signal A1 of the
voltage at the virtual neutral point CN2 and the signal A5 of the
voltage of non-conduction phase. An amplitude of the difference
voltage as the virtual difference voltage is level-shifted to a
voltage with the voltage V.sub.offset of the difference voltage
detecting circuit being set to the center, and then inputted into
the ADC and the voltage measurement circuit 44. In this manner, the
range of the input voltage into the ADC (AD converter) can be
limited, and only the virtual difference voltage required for
detection of the rotor position information can be extracted.
[0140] It is assumed that the virtual difference voltage detector
40 has no level-shift function, and the range of the input voltage
into the ADC is required to be one third to two thirds of the power
supply voltage of the power supply section of the motor driving
apparatus when the signal A2 of the voltage at the virtual neutral
point CN2 and the signal A5 of non-conduction phase are directly
inputted into the ADC. In this case, the required range of the
input voltage into the ADC is one third of the power supply voltage
of the power supply section of the motor driving apparatus.
However, in the present embodiment, since the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 has the level-shift function, the required
range of the input voltage into the ADC is from 0 to the order of
one eighth of the power supply voltage of the controller of the
motor driving apparatus, and therefore the required range of the
input voltage into the ADC is as small as in the order of one
eighth of the power supply voltage of the controller (in this case,
the power supply voltages of the power supply section and the
controller of the motor driving apparatus are in the order of 5 V,
and the amplitude of the signal of the virtual difference voltage
is in the order of 0.6 V.) Namely, provision of the differential
amplification circuit having the level-shift function to the
virtual difference voltage detector 40 allows the range of the
input voltage into the ADC to be controlled independently of the
power supply voltage which determines the amplitude of the drive
voltage of the motor. This can reduce the accuracy and function of
the ADC. Such a technique is especially suitable for applications
requiring self-controllability of the motor, and for a low-cost
motor driving system.
2-1-5 Determination of Start Conduction Phases of Rotation Start
Pulse
[0141] A method for determining start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse is described by reference to FIG. 10B.
[0142] When polarity determination results with respect to E1, E2
and E3 are obtained in the manner as thus described, the rotor
position determination unit 58 determines a current rotor position
from information shown in the reference table of FIG. 10B, to
determine conduction phases to which the rotation start pulse for
providing the starting torque is to be applied next.
[0143] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are negative, negative and positive, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines conduction phases to which, and a
conducting direction in which, the rotation start pulse is to be
applied, so as to allow the current pulse for imparting the
starting torque to flow from the U-phase coil to the W-phase coil
as shown in <1> of FIG. 10B.
[0144] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are positive, negative and positive, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse so as to allow the current pulse for imparting
the starting torque to flow from the V-phase coil to the W-phase
coil as shown in <2> of FIG. 10B.
[0145] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are positive, negative and negative, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse so as to allow the current pulse for imparting
the starting torque to flow from the V-phase coil to the U-phase
coil as shown in <3> of FIG. 10B.
[0146] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are positive, positive and negative, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse so as to allow the current pulse for imparting
the starting torque to flow from the W-phase coil to the U-phase
coil as shown in <4> of FIG. 10B.
[0147] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are negative, positive and negative, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse so as to allow the current pulse for imparting
the starting torque to flow from the W-phase coil to the V-phase
coil as shown in <5> of FIG. 10B.
[0148] When the respective polarity determination results of E1, E2
and E3 are negative, positive and positive, the rotor position
determination unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse so as to allow the current pulse for imparting
the starting torque to flow from the U-phase coil to the V-phase
coil as shown in <6> of FIG. 10B.
[0149] As thus described, the polarity determination results
temporarily stored in the data storage units 55, 56 and 57 are read
out by the rotor position determination unit 58 based on the timing
signal from the commutation controller 22, and the start conduction
phases of the rotation start pulse are determined according to the
information of the table of FIG. 10B. Information of determined
conduction phases is inputted as a rotor position signal into the
commutation controller 22, so that the start conduction phases of
the rotation start pulse are set.
[0150] In the rotor position searching process of the searching
start mode, the virtual difference voltage detector 40 and the
rotor position detecting circuit 50 operates in the above described
manners.
[0151] Further, although the present embodiment is described using
the timing signal from the commutation controller 22 as the timing
signal for data sampling or data transfer, a timing signal
generated by another timing signal generator may be used as the
timing signal for data sampling or data transfer.
2-1-6 Simplification of Second and Subsequent Rotor Position
Searching Processes
[0152] In the searching start mode, the rotor position searching
process and the rotation start torque applying process of applying
the torque current to a suitable stator phase for providing the
rotation start torque to the rotor of which position is already
determined, are alternately repeated to accelerate the start. In
the following, a process for reducing the motor starting time is
described. Here, the process in the first rotor position searching
process is made different from the process in the second or
subsequent rotor position searching process.
[0153] In <1> of FIG. 10B, the respective polarities of the
added difference voltages E1, E2, E3 are negative, negative and
positive. In <2>, the respective polarities are positive,
negative and positive. It is thus clear from <1> and
<2> of FIG. 10B that, when the rotor position changes from
120 degrees to 180 degrees, only the polarity of E1 changes whereas
the polarities of E2 and E3 are unchanged. It is clear from this
fact that in the determination of the change in rotor position,
constant determination of the changes in polarities of the three
added difference voltages E1, E2 and E3 is not necessary, but only
determination of the change in polarity of either one of the added
difference voltages E1, E2 and E3 may be performed.
[0154] For example, when the respective polarity determination
results of E1, E2 and E3 are negative, negative and positive and
the rotor position is determined to be at 120 degrees in the first
rotor position searching process, only the change in the polarity
of E1 from negative to positive is detected in the second rotor
position searching process. Similarly, the change in polarity of E3
may be determined for detecting the change in rotor position from
180 to 240 degrees, and the change in polarity of E2 may be
determined for detecting the change in rotor position from 240 to
300 degrees.
[0155] Namely, in the second and subsequent rotor position
searching processes, the rotor position search pulse current is
applied in the forward and backward directions to a pair of
conduction phases which are determined from the results E1, E2 and
E3 of three times of polarity determination in the previous rotor
position searching process, and the rotor position can be
determined by detecting the change in polarity of those phases.
[0156] Thus, in the second and subsequent rotor position searching
processes, since the rotor position can be detected by only one
detection of change in polarity, operations associated with the
polarity determination can be reduced, to shorten the motor
start-up time.
[0157] It is to be noted that in the second and subsequent rotor
position searches, all the added difference voltages E1, E2 and E3
may be subjected to the polarity determination.
2-1-7 Rotor Position Searching Process
[0158] In the following example, the rotor position search pulse
current is controlled to flow from the U-phase coil to the V-phase
coil in the first rotor position search.
(Rotor Position Search)
[0159] First, the commutation controller 22 selectively turns on a
drive transistor 3 and a drive transistor 7 in FIG. 1 to allow the
rotor position search pulse current to flow through a path which
includes a high side power line 1, the drive transistor 3, the
U-phase coil 10, the actual neutral point CN1 of the motor coils,
the V-phase coil 11, the drive transistor 7, the current detection
resistor 28 and a low side power line 2. Here, the virtual
difference voltage with respect to a potential of the virtual
neutral point CN2, generated between the terminal of the motor coil
of non-conduction phase and the virtual neutral point CN2 of the
resistor circuit 17, has a characteristic for the rotor position,
as indicated by the solid line A of FIG. 7A. In the searching start
mode, the virtual difference voltage detector 40 detects the
virtual difference voltage, and inputs the detected voltage into
the ADC and the voltage measurement circuit 44 for calculation. The
rotor position detecting circuit 50 stores the calculated result as
sampling data .DELTA.Vc1 into a sampling data 1 storage unit.
[0160] Next, the commutation controller 22 turns on a drive
transistor 4 and a drive transistor 6, to apply the rotor position
search pulse to a path for the high side power line 1, the drive
transistor 4, the V-phase coil 11, the actual neutral point CN1,
the U-phase coil 10, the drive transistor 6, a current detecting
resistor 18, and the low side power line 2. Namely, the rotor
position search pulse is controlled to flow from the V-phase coil
to the U-phase coil. At this time, the virtual difference voltage
with respect to a potential of the virtual neutral point CN2,
generated between the terminal of the motor coil of non-conduction
phase and the virtual neutral point CN2 has a characteristic for
the rotor position, as indicated by the broken line B of FIG. 7A.
The virtual difference voltage detector 40 detects the virtual
difference voltage, and inputs the detected voltage into the ADC
and the voltage measurement circuit 44 for calculation. The rotor
position detecting circuit 50 stores the calculated result as
sampling data .DELTA.Vc2 into a sampling data 2 storage unit.
[0161] Next, using the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22, .DELTA.Vc1 and .DELTA.Vc2 are added by the
synthesizer, and the polarity is determined from the addition
result E1 by the polarity determination unit. The determination
result is then temporarily stored into the E1 data storage unit
using the timing signal from the commutation controller 22.
[0162] Further, the commutation controller 22 turns on the drive
transistor 4 and a drive transistor 8, to allow the rotor position
search pulse current to flow from the V-phase coil to the W-phase
coil. In the searching start mode, the terminal of the motor coil
of non-conduction phase difference voltage detector 40 detects the
terminal of the motor coil of non-conduction phase difference
voltage, and inputs the detected voltage into the ADC and the
voltage measurement circuit 44 for calculation. In the rotor
position polarity searching block, sampling data .DELTA.Vc3 is
stored into the sampling data 1 storage unit.
[0163] Next, the commutation controller 22 turns on a drive
transistor 5 and the drive transistor 7, to allow the rotor
position search pulse current to flow from the W-phase coil to the
V-phase coil. In the searching start mode, the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 detects the virtual difference voltage, and
inputs the detected voltage into the ADC and the voltage
measurement circuit 44 for calculation. In the rotor position
polarity searching block, sampling data .DELTA.Vc4 is stored into
the sampling data 2 storage unit.
[0164] Next, using the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22, .DELTA.Vc3 and .DELTA.Vc4 are added by the
synthesizer, and the polarity is determined from the addition
result by the polarity determination unit. The determination result
is then temporarily stored into the E2 data storage unit using the
timing signal from the commutation controller 22.
[0165] Further, the commutation controller 22 turns on the drive
transistor 5 and the drive transistor 6, to allow the rotor
position search pulse current to flow from the W-phase coil to the
U-phase coil. In the searching start mode, the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 detects the virtual difference voltage, and
inputs the detected voltage into the ADC and the voltage
measurement circuit 44 for calculation. In the rotor position
polarity searching block, sampling data .DELTA.Vc5 is stored into
the sampling data 1 storage unit.
[0166] Next, the commutation controller 22 turns on the drive
transistor 3 and the drive transistor 8, to allow the rotor
position search pulse current to flow from the U-phase coil to the
W-phase coil. In the searching start mode, the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 detects the virtual difference voltage, and
inputs the detected voltage into the ADC and the voltage
measurement circuit 44 for calculation. In the rotor position
polarity searching block, sampling data .DELTA.Vc6 is stored into
the sampling data 2 storage unit.
[0167] Next, using the timing signal from the commutation
controller 22, .DELTA.Vc5 and .DELTA.Vc6 are added by the
synthesizer, and the polarity is determined from the addition
result by the polarity determination unit. The determination result
is then temporarily stored into an E3 data storage unit by the use
of the timing signal from the commutation controller 22.
(Applying Rotation Start Torque)
[0168] The rotation start torque is applied as follows. When the
respective results of the polarity determination of E1, E2 and E3
are negative, negative and positive, as shown in <1> of FIG.
10B, the rotor position determination unit 58 determines the rotor
position to be at an electrical angle of about 120 degrees (between
90 and 150 degrees), and turns on the drive transistor 3 and the
drive transistor 8 so as to allow the current to flow from the
U-phase coil to the W-phase coil. It is thereby possible to give a
favorable rotation start torque. Further, when the respective
results of the polarity determination of E1, E2 and E3 are
positive, negative and positive, as shown in <2> of FIG. 10B,
the rotor position determination unit 58 determines the rotor
position to be an electrical angle of about 180 degrees (between
150 and 210 degrees), and turns on the drive transistor 4 and the
drive transistor 8 so as to allow the current to flow from the
V-phase coil to the W-phase coil.
[0169] As thus described, the respective polarity data of E1, E2
and E3, having been temporarily stored as polarity determination
results into the E1/E2/E3 data storage units, are inputted into the
rotor position determination unit 58 using the timing signal from
the commutation controller 22. The rotor position determination
unit 58 determines start conduction phases of the rotation start
pulse according to the data of FIG. 10B, inputs the determined
conduction phases into the commutation controller 22 as the signal
of the rotor position, and processes the inputted signal, so that a
favorable rotation start torque of the motor can be given.
2-1-8 Flowchart of Rotor Position Searching Process
[0170] The process in the rotor position searching process in the
searching start mode is specifically described by reference to a
flowchart of FIG. 11.
[0171] First, the virtual difference voltages .DELTA.Vc1 and
.DELTA.Vc2 are extracted (Step S11). Specifically, for the rotor
position search, a setting for direction of the searching
conduction with the current pulse is made to allow the rotor
position searching current to flow from the U-phase coil to the
V-phase coil which is the forward direction. The rotor position
searching conduction is performed with the current pulse in the set
direction. The virtual difference voltage .DELTA.Vc1 to be provided
to the virtual difference voltage detector 40 is extracted.
[0172] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc1, as an initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The set direction of the rotor
position searching conduction by the current pulse is switched.
Next, for the rotor position search, a setting for direction of the
searching conduction with the current pulse is made to allow the
rotor position searching current to flow from the V-phase coil to
the U-phase coil which is the backward direction. The rotor
position searching conduction is then performed with the current
pulse in the set direction. The virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.Vc2 to be provided to the virtual point difference voltage
detector 40 is extracted.
[0173] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc2, as the initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The set direction of the rotor
position searching conduction by the current pulse is switched.
[0174] The voltages .DELTA.Vc1 and .DELTA.Vc2 as the virtual
difference voltages extracted in Step S11 are added, and the
polarity of the addition result E1 (=.DELTA.Vc1+.DELTA.Vc2) is
determined (Step S12). The polarity of E1 is stored as the
determination result.
[0175] Next, the virtual difference voltages .DELTA.Vc3 and
.DELTA.Vc4 are extracted (Step S13). For the rotor position search,
a setting for direction of the searching conduction with the
current pulse is made to allow the rotor position searching current
to flow from the V-phase coil to the W-phase coil which is the
forward direction. The rotor position searching conduction is then
performed with the current pulse in the set direction. The virtual
difference voltage .DELTA.Vc3 to be provided to the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 is extracted.
[0176] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc3, as the initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The set direction of the rotor
position searching conduction by the current pulse is switched.
Next, for the rotor position search, a setting for direction of the
searching conduction with the current pulse is made to allow the
rotor position searching current to flow from the W-phase coil to
the V-phase coil which is the backward direction. The rotor
position searching conduction is then performed with the current
pulse in the set direction. The virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.Vc4 to be provided to the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 is extracted.
[0177] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc4, as the initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The set direction of the rotor
position searching conduction by the current pulse is switched.
[0178] The voltages .DELTA.Vc3 and .DELTA.Vc4 as the virtual
difference voltages extracted in Step S13 are added, and the
polarity of the addition result E2 (=.DELTA.Vc3+.DELTA.Vc4) is
determined (Step S14). The polarity of E2 is stored.
[0179] Next, the virtual difference voltages .DELTA.Vc5 and
.DELTA.Vc6 are extracted (Step S15). For the rotor position search,
a setting for direction of the searching conduction with the
current pulse is made to allow the rotor position searching current
to flow from the W-phase coil to the U-phase coil which is the
forward direction. The rotor position searching conduction is then
performed with the current pulse in the set direction. The virtual
difference voltage .DELTA.Vc5 to be provided to the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 is extracted.
[0180] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc5, as the initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The set direction of the rotor
position searching conduction by the current pulse is switched.
Next, for the rotor position search, a setting for direction of the
searching conduction with the current pulse is made to allow the
rotor position searching current to flow from the U-phase coil to
the W-phase coil which is the backward direction. The rotor
position searching conduction is then performed with the current
pulse in the set direction. The virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.Vc6 to be provided to the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 is extracted.
[0181] After the extraction of .DELTA.Vc6, as the initial setting,
the current flowing through the coils in the rotor position
searching conduction is set to zero. The virtual difference
voltages .DELTA.Vc5 and .DELTA.Vc6 are added, and the polarity of
the addition result E3 (=.DELTA.Vc5+.DELTA.Vc6) is determined (Step
S16). The polarity of E3 is stored as the determination result.
[0182] On the basis of the results of polarity determination of E1,
E2 and E3, the rotor position is determined by reference to the
data shown in FIG. 10B (Step S17).
[0183] When the rotor position can be determined (YES in Step S18),
the searching start mode is finished. When the rotor position can
not be determined (NO in Step S18), the mode proceeds to a retry
mode (Step S19). In the retry mode, a predetermined process is
executed for shifting the rotor to a position where the rotor
position can be determined.
[0184] In the retry mode, for example, a kick pulse is applied for
slightly rotating the rotor, and thereby the relative position of
the rotor with respect to the stator is shifted. In this case,
number of times of attempting the retry mode is counted with a loop
counter. When the count reaches a predetermined value, the mode may
be shifted from the retry mode to another starting mode (e.g.
synchronous starting mode). Alternatively, in the retry mode, a
predetermined setting parameters with regard to each circuit
constituting the motor driving apparatus may be changed (e.g. a
V.sub.offset voltage value of the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 may be switched), and then the rotor position detection
may be repeated with the changed parameters. In this case, as for a
setting parameter with the limited number of changes, the number of
change may be counted so as not to exceed the limitation.
[0185] It is to be noted that in the above flowchart, the direction
of the current pulse at the start of the rotor position searching
conduction is set to the direction from the U-phase coil to the
V-phase coil. However the direction is not limited to this, and
conduction may be started in another pattern of phases.
[0186] Further, as described above, in the second and subsequent
rotor position searching processes, the search pulse is preferably
applied to either one pair of conduction phases of the
U-phase/V-phase, the V-phase/W-phase, and the W-phase/U-phase.
Then, only one of E1, E2 and E3 is subjected to the polarity
determination. Namely, the start conduction phases of the rotation
start pulse corresponding to the rotor position determined in the
previous rotor position searching process are determined by
reference to the information of FIG. 10B, and the current is then
passed in the forward and backward directions for the determined
conduction phases. After the conduction, only one of the added
difference voltages E1, E2 and E3 is subjected to the polarity
determination. The added difference voltage to be subjected to the
polarity determination is determined on the basis of the
information of FIG. 10B. As a result of the determination, when
polarity inversion is detected, the rotor is determined to have
been shifted to a next position, and the start conduction phases of
the rotor position search pulse corresponding to the determined
next position are determined by reference to the data of FIG. 10B.
The current is then passed in the forward and backward directions
for the determined conduction phases. Subsequently, this operation
is repeated.
2-1-9 Flowchart of Rotation Start Torque Applying Process
[0187] Processes in the rotation start torque applying process in
the searching start mode is specifically described by reference to
a flowchart of FIG. 12.
[0188] In the rotation start torque applying process, the rotation
start pulse is applied to the phases determined on the basis of
determination result in the previous rotor position searching
process (S31), thereby to move the rotor. Under conditions
providing the successful previous determination, the search pulse
is applied in the forward and backward directions (S32). The
virtual difference voltages in the forward and backward directions
are detected, and the detected voltage values are added. The
polarity of the added value is then determined (S33).
[0189] When the polarity is not reversed from the previous state,
the rotor is determined to be located in the previously determined
60-degree zone (S35). When the polarity is reversed from the
previous state, the rotor is determined to be shifted into a next
60-degree zone (S35).
2-1-10 Rotor Position Search Pulse and Rotation Start Pulse
Waveform
[0190] A method for applying the rotor position search pulse and
the rotation start pulse is specifically described with reference
to FIGS. 13A to 13E.
[0191] FIGS. 13A to 13E are views explaining application of the
rotor position search pulse and rotation start pulse. In FIGS. 13A
to 13E the abscissa axis is time axis. FIG. 11A, 11B and 11C
respectively show a U-phase coil current, a V-phase coil current
and a W-phase coil current. FIG. 11D shows polarity determination
results of the added difference voltages E1, E2 and E3. FIG. 11E
shows results of the rotor position determination.
[0192] FIGS. 13A to 13E shows an example of the rotor position
searching process, in which the rotor position search pulse is
applied six times (namely, applied to the three pairs of the
conduction phases) in the first rotor position searching process,
and the rotation start pulse is applied to the conduction phases
determined on the basis of the determination result in the previous
rotor position searching process in the second and subsequent rotor
position searching processes.
[0193] In FIGS. 13A to 13E, DS1 shows the rotor position search
pulse process required in the first rotor position search. The
rotor position search pulse is applied in the order of <1>,
<2> and <3> as shown in FIG. 10A, and a pair of rotor
position search pulses in the forward and backward directions is
applied three times.
[0194] The first rotor position search pulse in the forward
direction is applied from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 3 and 7 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc1, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc1 is temporarily
stored. Next, the rotor position search pulse in the backward
direction is applied from the V-phase coil to the U-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 4 and 6 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc2, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc2 is temporarily
stored.
[0195] The polarity of E1, which is a result of adding the virtual
difference voltages of the sampling data .DELTA.Vc1 and .DELTA.Vc2,
is determined to be positive.
[0196] The second rotor position search pulse in the forward
direction is applied from the V-phase coil to the W-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 4 and 8 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc3, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc3 is temporarily
stored.
[0197] Next, the rotor position search pulse in the backward
direction is applied from the W-phase coil to the V-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 5 and 7 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc4, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc4 is temporarily
stored.
[0198] The polarity of E2, which is a result of adding the virtual
difference voltages of the sampling data .DELTA.Vc3 and .DELTA.Vc4,
is determined to be negative.
[0199] The third rotor position search pulse in the forward
direction is applied from the V-phase coil to the W-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 5 and 6 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc5, and the extracted sampling data .DELTA.Vc5 is
temporarily stored.
[0200] Next, the rotor position search pulse in the backward
direction is applied from the U-phase coil to the W-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 3 and 8 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc6, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc6 is temporarily
stored.
[0201] The polarity of E3, which is a result of adding the virtual
difference voltages of the sampling data .DELTA.Vc5 and .DELTA.Vc6,
is determined to be negative.
[0202] Since the polarities of E1, E2 and E3 are respectively
determined to be positive, negative and negative, the rotor
position is determined to be at about 240 degrees. Conditions of
the rotor position search pulse at this time are stored, and
simultaneously the drive transistors 4 and 6 are turned on to apply
the rotation start pulse from the V-phase coil to the U-phase coil
in order to apply a suitable torque to the rotor in the rotation
start pulse process SP1.
[0203] It can be recognized by reference to the previously stored
search pulse conditions that the rotor position is at about 240
degrees. When the rotor position is at about 240 degrees, it is
known from FIG. 10B that the current should then be passed from the
V-phase to the U-phase. It is also known that the rotor position
may be detected by detecting the reversal of only the polarity of
E2.
[0204] Therefore, in the second rotor position search pulse process
DS2, the rotor position search pulse in the forward direction is
applied from the V-phase coil to the W-phase coil by turning on the
drive transistors 4 and 8 to extract sampling data .DELTA.Vc3, and
the extracted data.DELTA.Vc3 is temporarily stored.
[0205] Next, the rotor position search pulse in the backward
direction is applied from the W-phase coil to the V-phase coil by
turning on the drive transistors 5 and 7 to extract sampling data
.DELTA.Vc4, and the extracted data .DELTA.Vc4 is temporarily
stored.
[0206] It is determined whether or not the state transition of E2
which is a result of adding the virtual difference voltages of the
sampling data .DELTA.Vc3 and .DELTA.Vc4, is reversed.
[0207] In the example of FIGS. 13A to 13E, in DS2, the output of
the polarity determination of E2 is negative, again. This is
because the rotational speed is typically low at the start and
hence the commutation occurrence frequency is sufficiently low
compared with number of times of the rotor position searching. The
search pulse conditions at this time are stored, and simultaneously
the drive transistors 4 and 6 are turned on to provide the rotation
start pulse from the V-phase coil to the U-phase coil in order to
apply a suitable torque to the rotor in the rotation start pulse
process SP2.
[0208] Subsequently, in the same manner as above, the rotor
position search pulse processes DS3, DS4, DS5 and the rotation
start pulse processes SP3 and SP4 are repeated until the rotor
position variations are detected.
[0209] In the fifth rotor position search pulse process DS5, the
polarity of E2 is obtained, and then the rotor position is
determined to be at about 300 degrees. The search pulse conditions
at this time are stored, and simultaneously the drive transistors 5
and 6 are turned on to provide the rotation start pulse from the
W-phase coil to the U-phase coil in order to apply a suitable
torque to the rotor in the starting rotation pulse process SP5.
[0210] Subsequently, in the same manner as above, the rotor
position search pulse process and the rotation start pulse process
are repeated. As thus described, from the first rotor position
search pulse process DS1, the first 60-degree forward commutation
is observed in the fifth rotor position search pulse process DS5,
the second 60-degree forward commutation is observed in the eighth
rotor position search pulse process DS8, and then the tenth
60-degree forward commutation is observed in the tenth rotor
position search pulse process DS10. When the success in rotational
start is determined with those three times of 60-degree forward
commutation, the rotor position is then determined using a back
electromotive voltage.
[0211] In a period AP1, with the drive transistors 3 and 7 turned
on, the current is PWM-controlled so as to flow from the U-phase
coil to the V-phase coil. Subsequently, the rotor position is
detected with the back electromotive voltage to drive the motor
(back electromotive voltage feedback mode).
[0212] In addition, although the success in start is determined by
three times of completion of 60-degree forward commutation, the
number of forward commutation for determining the success in start
is not limited to three. The success in start may be determined on
the basis that the rotational speed, obtained from zones of the 60
degree forward commutation, has reached a predetermined value.
[0213] Further, for application of accelerating torque immediately
after the change from the searching start mode to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode, a zero-current period for
forming a conduction profile and detecting a zero-cross of the back
electromotive voltage is set at timing when the zero-cross of the
back electromotive voltage occurs, which is previously expected
from the commutation cycle per 60 degrees in the searching start
mode.
[0214] For example, in FIGS. 13A to 13E, a zero-cross after the
period AP1 is detected as the zero-cross of the back electromotive
voltage. Upon determination of the rotor position in the 60-degree
region, for example, the zero-cross from the positive to the
negative of the back electromotive voltage of the W-phase coil
which should occur at a central timing of the 60-degree region is
detected. When the predetermined zero-cross has not occurred at the
start of the zero-cross detection period, occurrence of the
zero-cross is waited, and upon the occurrence, the 60-degree
forward commutation is detected. In other words, in the case of
waiting for occurrence of the zero-cross from the positive to the
negative of the back electromotive voltage of the W-phase coil,
when the back electromotive voltage of the W-phase coil is still
positive at the start of the back electromotive voltage detection
period, the zero-cross detection period is continued until a
predetermined zero-cross occurs. Then the zero-cross is considered
to occur at the point of occurrence of the predetermined
zero-cross. In a case where it is determined that the predetermined
zero-cross has been determined at the start of the back
electromotive voltage detection period from the polarity of the
back electromotive voltage, the timing of starting the back
electromotive voltage of the W-phase coil is set to the timing of
the zero-cross occurrence. Namely, when the back electromotive
voltage of the W-phase coil has already become negative at the
start of the detection period in detection of the zero-cross from
the positive to the negative of the back electromotive voltage of
the W-phase coil, it is immediately determined that the zero-cross
have occurred. It is to be noted that detection of the zero-cross
of the back electromotive voltage is later described by reference
to FIG. 13.
2-2 Back Electromotive Voltage Feedback Mode
[0215] Next, the back electromotive voltage feedback mode is
described. The back electromotive voltage feedback mode is a mode
for controlling the commutation by stably detecting a back
electromotive voltage generated by the rotation of the rotor.
2-2-1 Torque Control of Back Electromotive Voltage Feedback
Mode
[0216] Torque control of the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode is described. In this mode, the search command signal
generator 25 and the start command signal generator 26 do not
operate.
[0217] The phase torque command signal generator 24 receives a
signal (external command signal) for instructing a toque from the
outside, and generates a plurality of component torque command
signals according to combinations between the timing from the
commutation controller 22 and on-states of the switching elements 3
to 8.
[0218] The pulse generator 20 outputs a signal (PWM on-pulse) for
providing an on-timing of a PWM signal in the phase selected in the
commutation controller 22. The comparator 23 receives information
of the phase in the on-state from the commutation controller 22,
selects one component torque command signal to be compared with an
output of the current detection amplifier 27, and compares the
selected component torque command signal with the output of the
current detection amplifier 27. Further, the comparator 23 compares
the output of the current detection amplifier with each of the
plurality of component torque command signals, and selects one of
the comparison results. When the output of the current detection
amplifier 27 becomes larger than the component torque command
signal to be compared, the comparator 23 outputs a signal (PWM
off-pulse) for providing an off-timing of the PWM signal. The PWM
controller 21 inputs the on-pulse of the PWM signal and the PWM off
pulse from the pulse generator 20 to control a pulse width of the
phase selected by the commutation controller 22.
[0219] The above method enables current control even when the
current is applied through all the three phase coils (e.g. see
JP-A-2003-174789). It should be noted that in the case of
performing 120-degree conduction, the phase torque command signal
generator 24 is not required.
2-2-2 Conduction Control of Back Electromotive Voltage Feedback
Mode
[0220] Next, conduction phase control of the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode is described. In the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, the commutation controller 22 performs
conduction control so as to make the current of each coil zero
during a period when the polarity of each back electromotive
voltage of each coil is expected to change.
[0221] In the coil where the current is zero, a time change element
of the current also becomes zero after a short period of time, and
a back electromotive voltage due to interaction of a magnetic flux
of the rotating rotor and coils appears across each coil, that is,
between a U-phase terminal line 13 and the actual neutral point CN1
of the motor coils, or between a V-phase terminal line 14 and the
actual neutral point CN1, or between a W-phase terminal line 15 and
the actual neutral point CN1. Therefore, timing (zero-cross timing)
at which the polarity changes can be detected so as to accurately
recognize the rotor position.
[0222] In the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the
threshold setting unit 38 sets a slight offset concerning the
comparison between differential input signals of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36. This offset can change the
output of the comparator 34 according to whether or not the
potential difference between differential input signals reaches a
predetermined value. In other words, the offset functions as a
threshold with respect to the differential input signal of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36 to prevent an adverse effect by
chattering of the zero-cross time.
[0223] In the back electromotive voltage detector 36, a coil in
which a current and its change with time are zero is selected by
the selection circuit 32 on the basis of information from the
commutation controller 22. The zero-cross timing of the voltage of
the coil in which the current and its change with time are zero is
fed back to the commutation controller 22 through the back
electromotive voltage detector 36. Thereby, accurate control of the
commutation timing is continuously kept. In addition, the offset,
namely threshold, may not be set for the purpose of preventing the
chattering. The chattering can also be prevented by setting the PWM
controller 21 inside the commutation controller 22, and in this
case, the threshold setting unit 38 is not required. Further, a
back electromotive voltage detector having a comparator may be
previously prepared for each of the phase coils, which eliminates
the need for the selection circuit 32 of the terminal line.
2-2-3 Motor Current and Back Electromotive Voltage
[0224] FIG. 14A is a view showing a motor current waveform of each
phase in the back electromotive voltage feedback mode. FIG. 14B is
a view showing edge directions of the zero-cross detection when the
back electromotive voltage is detected which occurs in the
non-conduction phase for respective conducted states of the
U-phase, the V-phase and the W-phase.
[0225] FIGS. 14A to 14C show phase current to be applied to
conduction phases determined by the commutation controller 22 and
the back electromotive voltage of each phase. In FIG. 14A, the
solid line shows a U-phase current, and the broken line shows a
U-phase back electromotive voltage. Similarly, In FIG. 14B, the
solid line shows a V-phase current, and the broken line shows a
V-phase back electromotive voltage. In FIG. 14C, the solid line
shows a W-phase current, and the broken line shows a W-phase back
electromotive voltage. Portions hatched with respect to the solid
lines of FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C are PWM-controlled. Further, Zones
I, II, III, IV, V, VI shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C correspond to an
electrical angle of 60 degrees.
[0226] FIG. 14D is a table showing conducted states of the
conduction phases in zones I, II, III, IV, V and VI, and edge
directions of the zero-cross detection for detecting the back
electromotive voltage occurring in the non-conduction phase
selected with respect to the conducted states of the U-phase, the
V-phase and the W-phase. With regard to the zero-cross point
detection in FIG. 14D, in the zone I, the control is made such that
the zero-cross point of the W-phase as the non-conduction phase
determined by the commutation controller 22 is detected. Therefore,
the selection circuit 32 selects a neutral point terminal line A1
and the W-phase terminal line 15. The back electromotive voltage
detector 36 including the comparator detects a zero-cross point at
which the back electromotive voltage of the W-phase becomes smaller
than the voltage at the neutral point of the motor coils. This is
expressed by W.dwnarw. in FIG. 14D.
[0227] In the zone II, control is made such that the zero-cross
point of the V-phase as the non-conduction phase determined by the
commutation controller 22 is detected. Therefore, in the selection
circuit 32, a neutral point terminal line A1 and a V-phase terminal
line 14 are selected, and a zero-cross point is detected in the
back electromotive voltage detector 36 including the comparator 34
at which the back electromotive voltage of the V-phase becomes
larger than the voltage at the neutral point of the motor coils.
This is expressed by V.uparw. in FIG. 14D.
[0228] In the same manner as above, upon receiving the
non-conduction phase which is determined by the commutation
controller 22 in each zone of an electrical angle of 60 degrees, in
the zone III, the zero-cross point U.dwnarw. is detected at which
the U-phase back electromotive voltage becomes smaller than the
voltage at the neutral point of the motor coils. In the zone IV,
the zero-cross point W.uparw. is detected at which the W-phase back
electromotive voltage becomes larger than the voltage at the
neutral point C1. In the zone V, the zero-cross point V.uparw. is
detected at which the V-phase back electromotive voltage becomes
smaller than the voltage at the neutral point C1. In the zone VI,
the zero-cross point U.dwnarw. is detected at which the U-phase
back electromotive voltage becomes larger than the voltage at the
neutral point C1.
[0229] From the above understood is the concept of the edge
direction of the zero-cross detection in the case of detecting the
back electromotive voltage that occurs in the non-conduction phase
with respect to the conducted states of the U-phase, the V-phase
and the W-phase in the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode.
2-2-4 Timing for Detecting Zero-Cross of Back Electromotive
Voltage
[0230] The zero-cross detection of the back electromotive voltage
is specifically described with reference to FIGS. 15A to 15C. FIG.
15A is a view explaining timing for detecting zero-cross of the
back electromotive voltage. FIGS. 15B and 15C show current profiles
in cases where the rotor positions are at timing t69 and timing
t70, respectively, immediately after the mode change form the
searching start mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode. The abscissa shows a rotor position or a time axis.
[0231] In FIGS. 15A to 15C, symbol T61 denotes either one of the
six kinds of 60-degree periods H1 to H6 shown in FIGS. 14A to 14D.
Symbols t62, t63 and t64 respectively denote a central position, an
initial position and a final position of the 60-degree period T61.
Symbols T65a and T65b each denote a phase advance component in the
back electromotive voltage zero-cross detection period. Symbols
T66a and T66b each denote an extended zone of back electromotive
voltage zero-cross detection period, which is extended until the
back electromotive voltage zero-cross occurs. Symbols t67a and t67b
each denote timing for starting the back electromotive voltage
zero-cross detection period. Symbols t68a and t68b each denote
timing for completing the back electromotive voltage zero-cross
detection period.
[0232] In sensorless drive, it is necessary to prepare a zero
current period for detecting the back electromotive voltage in each
phase. A predetermined period within the zero current zone is
referred to as a zero-cross detection period. The zero-cross
detection period starts at the timing t67a or t67b, which is
earlier by the predetermined period T65a or T65b than the next back
electromotive voltage zero-cross timing expected by considering the
previous 60-degree period T.
[0233] Thereby, when the expected cycle is long, namely the
expected rotational speed is low, the phase is advanced little by
little to gradually correct the expected value. Further, when the
expected cycle is short, namely the expected rotational speed is
high, as described above, occurrence of a predetermined back
electromotive voltage zero-cross in a predetermined phase is
continuously waited. This results in a delay of the phase, leading
to detection of a right back electromotive voltage zero-cross at
the timing t68a or t68b so as to correct the expected timing.
[0234] Typically, the number of rotor position search pulses is
sufficiently large during the 60-degree forward commutation in the
searching start mode immediately before the mode shift to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode. The rotor position immediately
after the mode shift to the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode is in the initial stage during the 60-degree periods, for
example, at the timing t69.
[0235] The current profile of each phase current at this time is as
shown in FIG. 15B. Upon receipt of information of the mode shift
immediately before, a U-phase current 84a starts rising relatively
steeply, and a V-phase current 83a starts falling relatively
steeply, and a W-phase current 85a starts falling at a relatively
gentle slope. Subsequently, the V-phase current 83a starts rising
at a relatively gentle slope. The change ratios of the V-phase
current 83a, the W-phase current 85a and the like are gentle here
for the purpose of providing a slop current effective in reduction
in vibration and noise of the motor. The V-phase current 83a then
becomes zero. Immediately after a short-term zero current zone for
stabilization of the V-phase current 83a to zero, a zero-cross
detection period starts for detecting a zero-cross from the
negative to the positive of the back electromotive voltage that
appears in the V-phase. As a result of detecting the zero-cross at
the timing t62, the V-phase current 83a starts rising at a
relatively gentle slope further in the forward direction.
[0236] As thus described, with regard to the zero-cross of the back
electromotive voltage that occurs after the mode shift to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode, it is possible to detect the
back electromotive voltage zero-cross that occurs at the
intermediate timing t62 of the 60-degree period. Therefore, the
zero-cross detection period may be set in the vicinity of the
timing t62, a 30-degree period after the timing 62. In this case,
the zero-cross detection period is continued until the zero-cross
is detected, thereby to accurately detect the zero-cross
timing.
[0237] Further, when the number of rotation start pulses is small
during the 60-degree period in the previous searching start mode
and the rotor position immediately after the mode shift to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode is at the final portion of the
60-degree period, for example at timing t70, the current profile is
as shown in FIG. 15C. Upon receipt of information of the previous
rotor position, a U-phase current 84b starts rising relatively
steeply, and a V-phase current 83b starts falling relatively
steeply, and a W-phase current 85b starts falling at a relatively
gentle slope. Subsequently, the V-phase current 83b starts rising
at a relatively gentle slope. The change ratios of the V-phase
current 83b and the W-phase current 85b are gentle here for the
purpose of providing a slop current effective in reduction in
vibration and noise of the motor. The V-phase current 83b then
becomes zero. Immediately after a short-term zero current zone for
stabilization of the V-phase current 83b to zero, a zero-cross
detection period starts for detecting the zero-cross from the
negative to the positive of the back electromotive voltage that
appears in the V-phase. In this case, the back electromotive
voltage zero-cross has already occurred at the timing t62, and it
appears to be better to detect the zero-cross at the intermediate
timing during a next 60-degree period.
[0238] However, in such a case, when the number of rotation start
pulses during the 60-degree forward commutation of the searching
start mode is sufficiently large, the zero-cross detection period
continues for about 90-degrees, which causes a problem of reducing
the torques. Therefore, even when the rotor position immediately
after the mode shift to the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode is at the timing t70, it is better to wait for the back
electromotive voltage zero-cross in the 60-degree period. In this
case, since the back electromotive voltage zero-cross has already
occurred at the timing t62, the polarity is constant until a time
period corresponding to 180 degrees elapses.
[0239] Therefore, it can be determined from the polarity that the
back electromotive voltage zero-cross has already occurred at the
timing t67b for starting the back electromotive voltage zero-cross
detection. It is thus considered that the zero-cross is immediately
detected, and a next 60-degree profile is then formed. This method
further suppresses reduction in torque. As thus already described,
the expected period information is reduced by the period shown by
T65b, finally to allow detection of accurate zero-cross timing.
2-2-5 Measurement Result of Back Electromotive Voltage Immediately
after Shift to Back Electromotive Voltage Feedback Mode
[0240] In a three-phase brushless motor, a back electromotive
voltage generated in the non-conduction phase immediately after the
mode shift from the searching start mode to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, was measured. FIGS. 16 and 17 show the
measurement results.
[0241] FIG. 16A is a view showing a waveform (Vi) of an induced
voltage of the W-phase and a waveform (Ve50) of a back
electromotive voltage generated in the W-phase as the
non-conduction phase when applying current from the U-phase coil to
the V-phase coil when a three-phase brushless motor B rotates at a
rotating speed of 50 rpm. It is to be noted that the abscissa
indicates an electrical angle, and the ordinate indicates a
voltage. The induced voltage and the back electromotive voltage
generated in the W-phase are voltages with respect to a potential
of the actual neutral point CN1. The power generation constant of
the three-phase brushless motor is: Ke=0.74 mV/rpm (rpm: motor
rotating speed per one minute). FIG. 14B is a view showing a
waveform of an added voltage of the induced voltage (Vi) of the
W-phase and the back electromotive voltage (Ve50) of the W-phase at
the motor rotating speed of 50 rpm, which are shown in FIG.
16A.
[0242] FIG. 17A is a view showing a waveform (Vi) of an induced
voltage of the W-phase, a waveform (Ve100) of a back electromotive
voltage generated in the W-phase as the non-conduction phase on
applying current from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil when the
three-phase brushless motor rotates at a rotating speed of 100 rpm,
and a waveform (Ve200) of a back electromotive voltage generated in
the W-phase as the non-conduction phase when applying current from
the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil at a motor rotating speed of
200 rpm. FIG. 17B is a view showing a waveform (Vie100) of an added
voltage of the induced voltage of the w-phase and the back
electromotive voltage of the W-phase at the motor rotating speed of
100 rpm, and a waveform (Vie200) of an added voltage of the induced
voltage of the w-phase and the back electromotive voltage of the
W-phase at the motor rotating speed of 200 rpm, which are shown in
FIG. 17A.
[0243] Immediately after the mode shift from the searching start
mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the added
voltage of the back electromotive voltage and the induced voltage
is generated in the W-phase as the non-conduction phase in
detection of the back electromotive voltage by the two-phase
conduction from the U-phase coil to the V-phase coil, as shown in
FIGS. 16B and 17B. Further, as described in the explanation of
FIGS. 17A and 17B, detecting the zero-cross of the W-phase voltage
is to detect the falling edge of the added voltage of the W-phase
in the back electromotive voltage feedback mode in conduction from
the U-phase to the V-phase.
[0244] As shown in FIG. 16B, immediately after the mode shift from
the searching start mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode, since the motor rotating speed is low, the back electromotive
voltage generated in the W-phase is small and the current passing
through the two phases is relatively large due to the motor start.
Therefore, the induced voltage of the W-phase exerts a large
effect.
[0245] For this reason, in FIG. 16B, the zero-cross of the W-phase
induced voltage and the neutral point voltage of the motor coils
occur at two points Z1 and Z2 of electrical angles of about 50
degrees and 270 degrees. The zero-cross at about 50 degrees which
occurs in detection during the back electromotive voltage detection
period, is detected at a normal position and thus has no problem.
However, the zero-cross at about 270 degrees is detected at
erroneous detection position and thus has the possibility to cause
a problem of motor reversal or the like.
[0246] In order to avoid this problem, the motor rotating speed is
kept high immediately after the mode shift from the searching start
mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode. Thereby, the
back electromotive voltage generated in the W-phase is high,
allowing reduction in effect exerted by the induced voltage of the
W-phase in the added voltage of the W-phase induced voltage and the
waveform of the W-phase back electromotive voltage which are
generated by the two-phase conduction.
[0247] This can be easily understood from FIG. 17B. In this figure,
the zero-cross of the added voltage of the back electromotive
voltage waveform (Ve100, Ve200) and the W-phase back electromotive
voltage is generated only at the electrical angle of about 50
degrees (Z1). Namely, the zero-cross at the electrical angle of
about 270 degrees (Z2) is avoided since the back electromotive
voltage of the W-phase becomes larger due to the high motor
rotating speed compared with the case of FIG. 16B. It is thereby
possible to prevent erroneous detection of the zero-cross Z2 at
about 270 degrees.
[0248] As thus described, it is found preferable that, when the
mode is shifted from the searching start mode to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode, the motor be accelerated in
the searching start mode until the motor rotating speed becomes a
predetermined rotating speed, and then the mode be shifted to the
back electromotive voltage feedback mode.
[0249] Incidentally, the back electromotive voltages respectively
generated in the U-phase coil, the V-phase coil and the W-phase
coil are in sinusoidal waveforms with a 120-degree phase
difference. The neutral point voltage of the three-phase motor is
an added voltage of the back electromotive voltages generated
respectively in the U-phase coil, the V-phase coil and the W-phase
coil. Namely, it is generally known that the neutral point voltage
of the three-phase motor as the added voltage of the three
sinusoidal waves with a 120-degree phase difference is ideally zero
(excluding the case of a three-time higher harmonic component etc.)
As thus described, the difference voltage of the voltage at the
actual neutral point CN1 of the motor coils and the voltage at the
virtual neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17 only includes
variation component of the neutral point difference voltage, which
is independent of the effect of the back electromotive voltage.
Hence the difference voltage becomes accurate rotor position
information independently of the effect of the back electromotive
voltage.
[0250] As described above, the virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.V3, which is generated at the non-conductive motor coil and
measured with reference to a voltage of the virtual neutral point
CN2 of the resistor circuit 17 connected in parallel to the motor
coils, has almost the same waveform of sum of the induced voltage
.DELTA.V1 and the neutral point difference voltage .DELTA.V2. It is
expressed by the following equation: Virtual difference voltage
.DELTA.V3.apprxeq..DELTA.V1+.DELTA.V2.
[0251] Namely, the waveform of the virtual difference voltage has
larger amplitude than that of the induced voltage or the neutral
point difference voltage. The virtual difference voltage has better
noise-resistance and a wider range for detection compared to the
induced voltage or the neutral point difference voltage, and is
available for a rotor position information signal. That is, it is
understood that the virtual difference voltage has excellent
characteristic. The present invention uses the virtual difference
voltage having such excellent characteristic for a detection signal
of a rotor initial position in the searching start mode. Thus
noise-resistance can be improved and a dead point can be eliminated
in detection of a rotor initial position for a three-phase
motor.
[0252] Namely, according to the embodiment of the present
invention, in the searching start mode, the rotor position
searching process for detecting the virtual difference voltage with
the two-phase conduction and the rotation start torque applying
process for providing appropriate starting acceleration to the
motor before the mode shift to the back electromotive voltage
feedback mode are alternately repeated. In the rotor position
searching of the searching start mode, the response signal of the
difference voltage between the voltage generated at the motor coil
of non-conduction phase and the voltage at the virtual neutral
point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17 has a large amplitude and a
range which is effectively extended for detecting the rotor
position. Thus it has good characteristics to be used effectively
as a rotor position information signal. Therefore, accurate rotor
position information can be detected by starting acceleration in
the searching start mode, making it possible to quickly and
reliably realize desired starting acceleration.
[0253] Further, immediately after the mode shift from the searching
start mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the
added voltage of the induced voltage and the back electromotive
voltage is generated in the non-conduction phase which is a target
for back electromotive voltage detection. When the rotating speed
is insufficient in initial acceleration of the start of the motor,
the problem of reversal or the like, caused by the erroneous
detection of the rotor position, might occur in a specific
three-phase brushless motor as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. However,
according to the present embodiment, in the searching start mode,
sufficient starting acceleration is provided to the motor until the
motor rotational speed reaches or exceeds a predetermined value to
increase an amount of an induced voltage component included in the
detected virtual difference voltage, thereby allowing prevention of
erroneous detection of the rotor position immediately after the
mode shift from the searching start mode to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, so as to realize quick and reliable
start.
[0254] Further, adding rotor position information in forward and
backward directions can correct slight deviation of position on
rotor position detection on application of rotor position search
pulses with two phase conduction, and the range which is effective
for detection information of the rotor position is extended. Such a
virtual difference voltage is effectively used for an initial
position detection signal and can prevent a dead point of the rotor
position from occurring. Further sine the amplitude is large and
the range for detection is wide, it has good characteristic on
noise resistance. Therefore acceleration in the searching start
mode allows the rotor position information to be detected exactly
and a desired acceleration can be realized rapidly and
reliably.
EMBODIMENT 2
[0255] In Embodiment 1, the method for setting start conduction
phases of the rotation start pulse is described by reference to
FIGS. 10A and 10B. In the present embodiment, another example
thereof is described.
[0256] FIG. 18A shows another example. In the example of FIG. 18A,
polarity determination of E1, E2 and E3 are processed in an
arithmetic circuit. Specifically, the polarities of E1, E2 and E3
are binarized. The binarized polarity values of E1, E2 and E3 are
weighted and summed, and on the basis of the summed values, the
start conduction phases of the rotation start pulse are set.
[0257] In the example of FIG. 18A, when the polarity of E1, E2 or
E3 is positive, the polarity value is 1, and when the polarity is
negative, the polarity value is 0. The weights to the polarity
values of E1, E2 and E3 are 1, 2 and 4, respectively. Summed values
for polarity determination are 4, 5, 1, 3, 2, and 6. In polarity
determination, at he polarity values of E1, E2 and E3 are summed.
When the summed value becomes a value shown in FIG. 17A, according
to the integrated value, the start conduction phases of the
rotation start pulse are set to UW, VW, VU, WU, WV, or UV.
[0258] By reference to FIG. 18B, still another example of a method
for setting conduction phases at the start of the rotation start
pulse is described. In the example of FIG. 18B, when the polarity
of E1, E2 or E3 are positive, the polarity values is 1, and when
the polarity is negative, the polarity value is -1. The weights to
the polarities of E1, E2 and E3, are 1, 2 and 4, respectively.
Summed values for polarity determination are 1, 3, -5, -1, -3, and
5. In polarity determination, at he polarity values of E1, E2 and
E3 are summed, and the summed value is then added with a
predetermined value .alpha. (5 in the example). When the obtained
value (summed value+.alpha.) becomes a value shown in FIG. 18B,
according to the value of (summed value+.alpha.), the start
conduction phases of the rotation start pulse are set to UW, VW,
VU, WU, WV, or UV.
[0259] It is understood from what is described above that the
setting of the start conduction phases of the rotation start pulse
by determination of polarities of E1, E2 and E3 can be made by any
of the processes in FIGS. 10B, 18A and 18B. It is understood that
setting of the start conduction phases of the rotation start pulse
can be executed by processes in a logic circuit in FIG. 10B, and in
the arithmetic circuit in FIGS. 18A and 18B.
[0260] It is to be noted that in setting the start conduction
phases of the rotation start pulse, the circuit scale tends to be
relatively small in the case of achieving the processes in the
logic circuit compared with the arithmetic circuit. It is therefore
thought that the setting by the processes in the logic circuit can
be readily applied to the case of requiring the motor alone to have
a self-controlling property or the case of using a low-cost motor
drive system.
EMBODIMENT 3
[0261] A preferred mode of the rotor position search pulse is
described. FIG. 19 shows characteristics of the virtual difference
voltage on application of the rotor position search pulse with the
two-phase conduction (from the U-phase coil terminal to the V-phase
coil terminal). FIG. 19 shows a characteristic of two cases
different in current level of the rotor position search pulse.
[0262] In FIG. 19, variations in virtual difference voltage in the
case where the rotor position search pulse current is relatively
large is indicated by the solid line X. In FIG. 19, variations in
virtual difference voltage in the case where the rotor position
search pulse current is relatively small is indicated by the broken
line Y.
[0263] FIG. 19 shows that a sub-peak Ps and a sub bottom Bs in the
case (solid line X) with the rotor position search pulse current
set to high are smaller than a sub-peak Ps and a sub bottom Bs with
the rotor position search pulse current set to low (broken line
Y).
[0264] Accordingly, controlling the rotor position search pulse
current value to smaller in the rotor position detection can lead
to reduction in size of the response voltage signal at the sub peak
and the sub bottom which appear at both ends of the motor coil,
thereby contributing to extraction of sampling data enabling
further accurate determination of the rotor position.
[0265] A sampling pulse for the rotor position detection is
described. In principle, the rotor position search pulse is applied
by turning on a selected high side drive transistor and a selected
low side drive transistor to apply a predetermined voltage between
coil terminals only for a predetermined time width. The search
command signal generator 25 sets an amplitude of the rotor position
search pulse.
[0266] In the start mode, the commutation controller 22 turns on in
PWM a drive transistor selected for application of the rotor
position search pulse according to a pulse from the pulse generator
20 through the PWM controller 21, and turns off it in PWM according
to an output from the comparator 23 through the PWM controller 21.
Details of this operation are described with reference to FIGS. 20A
to 20C.
[0267] FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C respectively show a rotor position
search pulse current, a sampling pulse generated in the rotor
position detecting circuit 50, and an output signal of the
comparator 23. The rotor position search pulse current is detected
with the current detection resistor 28 (see FIG. 20A), and then
inputted into the comparator 23 through the current detection
amplifier 27. The comparator 23 compares the detection signal of
the rotor position search pulse current inputted through the
current detection amplifier 27 with a predetermined value Ith set
by the search command signal generator 25. When the amplitude of
the detection signal reaches the predetermined value Ith at the
rising start of the rotor position search pulse current, an
off-signal as shown in FIG. 20C is outputted at that timing. Upon
receipt of this off-signal, the PWM controller 21 outputs a control
signal for turning off to the commutation controller 22. In the
rotor position detecting circuit 50, a sampling pulse as shown in
FIG. 20B is generated almost in synchronization with a timing at
which the amplitude of the detection signal of the rotor position
search pulse current reaches the predetermined value Ith.
[0268] Namely, after the rotor position detecting circuit 50 has
captured sampling data at the timing of generation of the sampling
pulse, the rotor position search pulse current is turned off.
[0269] When the rotor is located at about 0 degree shown in FIG.
19, in order to prevent the virtual difference voltage detector 40
from performing erroneous detection of the sub peak with increase
in rotor position search pulse current, the sampling pulse is
generated at a timing corresponding to a current region where the
output of the virtual difference voltage detector 40 is stabilized.
The rotor position detecting circuit 50 samples and stores the
output of the virtual point difference voltage detector 40 at the
timing of the sampling pulse so that erroneous rotor position
determination can be prevented.
[0270] By reference to FIGS. 21A and 21B, how to apply the rotation
start pulse is described. In the above description, the rotor
position search pulse and the rotation start pulse each includes
only one pulse as shown in FIG. 20A. However, when the rotation
start pulse is composed of one pulse, a period applying the
rotation start pulse becomes long, which may cause an excessive
current increase, leading to a reliability problem.
[0271] As shown in FIG. 21B, the rotation start pulse can be
composed of a plurality of pulses. In this case, a command value
from the start command signal generator 26 is compared with a
current detection value from the current detection amplifier 27,
and when the current detection value reaches the command value from
the start command signal generator 26, PWM is turned off, and after
the lapse of a predetermined time, PWM is turned on again. It is
thereby possible to keep the current at almost constant level so as
to maintain reliability.
[0272] Further, the search command signal generator 25 sets an
amplitude of the rotor position search pulse. Also as to the rotor
position search pulse, as shown in FIG. 21B, the rotor position
search pulse can be composed of a plurality of pulses by applying
PWM-control to the current. Specifically, a command value from the
search command signal generator 25 is compared with a current
detection value from the current detection amplifier 27, and when
the current detection value reaches the command value from the
search command signal generator 25, PWM is turned off, and after
the lapse of a predetermined time, PWM is turned back on. This is
effective in prevention of erroneous detection of the rotor
position.
[0273] FIGS. 22A to 22E are views explaining application of the
rotor position search pulse and the rotation start pulse when the
rotation start pulse is composed of a plurality of pulses. FIGS.
22A, 22B and 22C are a U-phase coil current, a V-phase coil current
and a W-phase coil current, respectively. FIG. 22D shows output
results of polarity determination of E1, E2 and E3. FIG. 22E shows
rotor position determination results. This example is the same as
the example of FIGS. 13A to 13E except that the start pulse is
composed of a plurality of pulses.
[0274] According to the rotation start pulse and the rotor position
search pulse of the present embodiment, the number of rotor
position search pulses which do not contribute to the torque
decreases, and the rotor position search pulse which is
PWM-controlled can be applied. Thus, the time for applying the
rotation start pulse which is continuously applied increases, and
thereby resulting in enhancement of the accelerated speed at the
start of the motor.
[0275] In the above description, the studies were made on the basis
of the response signal in the case where the current tends to
increase. However, the rotor position can be detected also in a
case where the current tends to decrease. Such a case is described
below.
[0276] FIG. 23 is a view showing variations in virtual difference
voltage in respective cases of a decrease and an increase in rotor
position search pulse current in application of the rotor position
search pulse from the U-phase coil to the V-phase. In this figure,
the solid line F indicates variations in the virtual difference
voltage when the rotor position search pulse current flowing in the
direction from the U-phase to the V-phase tends to increase. The
broken line E indicates variations in the virtual difference
voltage when the rotor position search pulse current flowing in the
direction from the U-phase to the V-phase tends to decrease.
[0277] Since each of these response signals is detected as a
product of an inductance and the current change, the virtual
difference voltage with the increasing current has opposite
polarity to the response signal with the decreasing current.
[0278] It is therefore clear that in FIG. 21B, for example when the
rotor position search pulse current is turned off after turned on,
the response signals having the opposite polarities can be detected
before and after the turning-off, which can be applied to the rotor
position search.
[0279] In the explanation of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the following was
described. For the purpose of detecting movement of the motor from
about 240 degrees to about 300 degrees, as a result of polarity
determination of the added difference voltage E2 in the case of
allowing the rotor position search pulse to flow in the forward
direction from the V-phase to the W-phase and in the case of
allowing the pulse to flow in the backward direction from the
W-phase to the V-phase, the polarity shift from the negative to the
positive is detected. However, during the off-period, as a result
of polarity determination of the added difference voltage E2 in the
case of allowing the rotor position search pulse to flow in the
forward direction from the V-phase to the W-phase and in the case
of allowing the pulse to flow in the backward direction from the
W-phase to the V-phase, the polarity shift from the positive to the
negative is detected. This may be applied to the rotor position
search.
EMBODIMENT 4
[0280] FIG. 24 shows another example of the operational flow of the
motor driving apparatus. In the example of FIG. 24, a kick pulse is
applied in a retry mode to displace the motor position. Further,
when the rotor position cannot be detected even by the retry mode,
the motor is shifted to a synchronous start mode for starting the
motor by synchronous operation. Moreover, a condition for switching
the mode from the searching start mode to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode is that the motor rotational speed is not
lower than a predetermined value.
[0281] In FIG. 24, when the motor rotational speed is less than the
predetermined value, as described above, the current is controlled
to sequentially pass through the pairs of phases of the motor coils
to obtain added difference voltages E1, E2 and E3, and polarities
thereof are then determined (S52 to S57). The rotor position is
determined on the basis of the polarity determination results
(S58).
[0282] When the rotor position can be determined, a rotor position
search pulse on the basis of the determined rotor position is
applied (S63). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the
motor rotational speed reaches or exceeds the predetermined value
(S51). When the motor rotational speed reaches or exceeds the
predetermined value, an absolute value of the threshold of the
comparator is set to a predetermined value suitable for operation
of the back electromotive voltage feedback mode (S61), to shift the
mode to the back electromotive voltage feedback mode (S62).
[0283] On the other hand, when the rotor position can not be
determined, the mode proceeds to the retry mode. In the retry mode,
a predetermined number of kick pulses are applied (S59), and
thereafter the rotor position search process is performed again for
shifting the rotor position. The number of trials of the retry mode
is counted, and when the counted number reaches a predetermined
number (S60), the rotor position detection by application of the
rotor position search pulse is suspended, and the mode is shifted
to the synchronous starting mode for generating a rotational
magnetic field at a predetermined rotational speed in the stator to
start the motor (S64). In this synchronous starting mode, although
the starting speed is low, reliable starting can be realized even
with the rotor position being obscure.
[0284] In addition, the kick pulse includes a plurality of pulses,
and at least one of the pulses is made to certainly apply motor
torque which is not smaller than a predetermined level. For
example, two kinds of pulses may be applied whose phases are
different from each other by 90 degrees. In this case, at least
0.71 torque can be allied with the maximum torque taken as 1. Three
kinds of pulses may also be applied whose phases are different from
one another by 60 degrees or 120 degrees. In this case, at least
0.87 torque can be applied. Two kinds of pulses may also be applied
whose phases are different from each other by 60 degrees or 120
degrees. In this case, at least 0.50 torque can be applied. The
pair of pulses whose phases are different by 60 degrees or 120
degrees can be realized by applying a current pulse between two
terminals arbitrarily selected out of three phase coil terminals of
the motor. The pair of pulses whose phases are different from each
other by 90 degrees can be realized in the method in which the
current pulse is first applied between two terminals arbitrarily
selected out of the three phase coil terminals of the motor and
then the current pulse is applied between the two phase coil
terminals coupled and the remaining one phase coil terminal.
EMBODIMENT 5
[0285] FIG. 25 shows another configuration of the motor driving
apparatus according to the present invention. The motor driving
apparatus in the present embodiment has a configuration of the back
electromotive voltage detector different from that of Embodiment 1.
The other configurations and operations are the same.
[0286] In the motor driving apparatus of the present embodiment, a
back electromotive voltage detector 36c has, instead of the
selection circuit 32 and the selection circuit 33 in the
configuration of Embodiment 1, a selection circuit 32b combining
these functions. In the searching start mode and the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode, voltage signals from the
actual neutral point CN1 and the virtual neutral point CN2 are
respectively connected to the virtual difference voltage detector
40 and the comparator 34 through the selection circuit 32b. The
voltage output of the motor coil of the non-conduction phase is
provided on two channels. This configuration allows the selection
circuit 32 and the selection circuit 33 shown in Embodiment 1 to be
realized by the one selection circuit 32b, simplifying the circuit
configuration.
[0287] FIG. 26A shows an example of the configuration of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36c of the present embodiment. The
back electromotive voltage detector 36c includes the comparator 34
and the selection circuit 32b. The selection circuit 32b includes
first to third switching circuits 32x to 32z controlled by the
commutation controller 22. The first switching circuit 32x selects
any one of terminals of the motor coils 10 to 12 to connect the
selected one to the virtual difference voltage detector 40. The
virtual difference voltage detector 40 is connected to the virtual
neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17. The second switching
circuit 32y selects any one of terminals of the motor coils 10 to
12 to connect the selected one to the positive input of the
comparator 34. The third switching circuit 32z connects either the
actual neutral point CN1 of the motor coils 10 to 12 or the virtual
neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17 to the negative input
of the comparator 34.
[0288] In the rotor position searching process of the searching
start mode, when a rotor position search pulse in two-phase
conduction is applied, a control signal from the commutation
controller 22 is input to the selection circuit 32b. The selection
circuit 32b operates in response to the control signal, and
connects the virtual neutral point CN2 and the motor coil of the
non-conduction phase to the virtual difference voltage detector 40
such that a virtual difference voltage with reference to the
virtual neutral point CN2 is input to the virtual difference
voltage detector 40.
[0289] That is, in the searching start mode, the selection circuit
32b connects only a terminal line of the non-conduction phase to
the virtual difference voltage detector 40 to feed the virtual
difference voltage to the virtual difference voltage detector 40. A
differential amplifier circuit in the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 is used while an offset voltage thereof is being
appropriately adjusted. At this time, the virtual difference
voltage is detected from a terminal line (coil terminal) of a
predetermined non-conduction phase through the selection circuit
32b at a timing when the virtual difference voltage is
significantly output.
[0290] In the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the back
electromotive voltage detector 36c detects the back electromotive
voltage of the terminal line (coil terminal) of the non-conduction
phase by the selection circuit 32b with reference to the voltage of
the actual neutral point CN1. Therefore, a threshold of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36c is set close to zero. A
zero-cross of the back electromotive voltage is detected from a
coil terminal of a predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32b at a timing when the zero-cross is expected
to appear.
[0291] FIG. 26B shows another example of the configuration of the
back electromotive voltage detector 36c. The back electromotive
voltage detector 36d shown in FIG. 26B includes three comparators
34a to 34c and the selection circuit 32c. The selection circuit 32c
includes the first and second switching circuits 32x and 32z. The
first switching circuit 32x selects any one of terminals of the
motor coils 10 to 12 to connect the selected one to the virtual
difference voltage detector 40. The other input terminal of the
virtual difference voltage detector 40 is connected to the virtual
neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit 17. The second switching
circuit 32z connects either the actual neutral point CN1 of the
motor coils 10 to 12 or the virtual neutral point CN2 of the
resistor circuit 17 to the negative inputs of the comparators 34a
to 34c. The motor coils 10 to 12 are connected to the positive
inputs of the comparators 34a to 34c, respectively.
[0292] In the searching start mode, only the terminal line of the
non-conduction phase is connected to the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 through the selection circuit 32c to feed a virtual
difference voltage to the virtual difference voltage detector 40.
In the searching start mode, the differential amplifier circuit in
the virtual difference voltage detector 40 is used while an offset
voltage thereof is being adjusted. At this time, an extraction
timing of the virtual difference voltage is a timing when the
virtual difference voltage is significantly output. At the timing,
the virtual difference voltage is detected from a terminal line
(coil terminal) of a predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32c.
[0293] In FIG. 26B, in the back electromotive voltage feedback
mode, each phase has the comparators 34a to 34c for detecting the
back electromotive voltage of the terminal line (coil terminal) of
the non-conduction phase. Thresholds of the comparators 34a to 34c
in the back electromotive voltage detector 36d is set close to
zero.
[0294] Note that in both the searching start mode and the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode, a voltage generated in the
non-conduction phase is detected in the similar manner. Thus, in
FIGS. 26A and 26B, the same signal may be input to the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 and the comparators 34 and 34a to
34c. Specifically, in the configuration of FIG. 26A, the output of
the third switching circuit 32z may be fed to both the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 and the comparator 34. In this case,
at a shift from the searching start mode to the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, an input signal to the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 and the comparator 34, which serves as a
reference for detecting the voltage of the non-conduction phase,
may be switched from the voltage signal of the virtual neutral
point CN2 to the voltage signal of the actual neutral point CN1.
Specifically, as a reference signal used for rotor position
detection, the voltage signal of the virtual neutral point CN2 may
be used in the searching start mode, and the voltage signal of the
actual neutral point CN1 may be used in the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode.
[0295] According to the configuration of the present embodiment, as
in the case of Embodiment 1, shift from the searching start mode to
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode can be smoothly
performed without a rotor position sensor, thereby stably and
quickly starting the motor.
EMBODIMENT 6
[0296] FIG. 27 shows another configuration of the motor driving
apparatus according to the present invention. The motor driving
apparatus in the present embodiment has a configuration of the back
electromotive voltage detector different from the configuration of
Embodiment 1. The other configurations and operations are the
same.
[0297] The motor driving apparatus of the present embodiment has,
instead of the selection circuit 32 and the selection circuit 33 in
the configuration of Embodiment 1, a selection circuit 32d
combining these functions. In addition, inputs to the back
electromotive voltage detector 36e and the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 are provided by only one virtual neutral point
terminal line A2. Moreover, a voltage output of the motor coil of
the non-conduction phase is provided on two channels through the
selection circuit 32d. This configuration allows the selection
circuit 32 and the selection circuit 33 shown in Embodiment 1 to be
realized by the one selection circuit 32d, simplifying the
configuration of wiring and the like.
[0298] FIG. 28A shows the configuration of the back electromotive
voltage detector 36e of the present embodiment. The back
electromotive voltage detector 36e of the present embodiment
includes the comparator 34 and the selection circuit 32d. The
selection circuit 32d includes the first and second switching
circuits 32x and 32y. The first switching circuit 32x selects any
one of terminals of the motor coils 10 to 12 to connect the
selected one to the virtual difference voltage detector 40. The
second switching circuit 32y selects any one of the terminals of
the motor coils 10 to 12 to connect the selected one to the
positive input of the comparator 34. The virtual neutral point CN2
of the resistor circuit 17 is connected to the negative inputs of
the virtual difference voltage detector 40 and the comparator
34.
[0299] In the rotor position searching process of the searching
start mode, when a current pulse which is a rotor position search
pulse with a two-phase conduction is applied, a control signal from
the commutation controller 22 is input to the selection circuit
32d. The selection circuit 32d receives the control signal, and
connects the virtual neutral point CN2 and the motor coil of the
non-conduction phase to the virtual difference voltage detector 40
such that a virtual difference voltage with reference to the
voltage of the virtual neutral point CN2 of the resistor circuit
17, which is generated in the non-conduction phase of the motor
coil, is input to the virtual difference voltage detector 40.
Specifically, in the searching start mode, only the terminal line
of the non-conduction phase is connected to the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 through the selection circuit 32d, and the
virtual difference voltage is read from the motor coil terminal of
the non-conduction phase with reference to the voltage of the
virtual neutral point CN2. In the searching start mode, the offset
voltage of the differential amplifier circuit in the virtual
difference voltage detector 40 is adjusted. At this time, the
virtual difference voltage is detected from a motor coil (coil
terminal) of a predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32d at a timing when the virtual difference
voltage is significantly output.
[0300] In the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the back
electromotive voltage detector 36e has only one comparator, and
reads the back electromotive voltage from the motor coil (coil
terminal) of the non-conduction phase through the selection circuit
32d with reference to the voltage of the virtual neutral point CN2.
In the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the back
electromotive voltage detector 36e is used while an absolute value
of a threshold thereof is being reduced or removed. At this time, a
zero-cross of the back electromotive voltage is detected from the
coil terminal of the predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32d at a timing when the zero-cross is expected
to appear.
[0301] FIG. 28B shows another configuration of the back
electromotive voltage detector 36e. A back electromotive voltage
detector 36f shown in FIG. 28B includes three comparators 34a to
34c and a selection circuit 32e. The selection circuit 32e selects
any one of terminals of the motor coils 10 to 12 to connect the
selected one to the virtual difference voltage detector 40. The
comparators 34a to 34c are provided in each phase of the respective
motor coils, and the motor coils 10 to 12 are connected to the
positive inputs of the comparators 34a to 34c, respectively.
[0302] In the searching start mode, only the terminal line of the
non-conduction phase is connected to the virtual difference voltage
detector 40 through the selection circuit 32e to feed the virtual
difference voltage to the virtual difference voltage detector 40.
In the searching start mode, the virtual difference voltage
detector in the difference voltage detector is used while an offset
voltage thereof is being adjusted. At this time, the virtual
difference voltage is detected from the terminal line (coil
terminal) of the predetermined non-conduction phase through the
selection circuit 32d at a timing when the virtual difference
voltage is significantly output.
[0303] In the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, each of the
comparators 34a to 34c detects a back electromotive voltage
generated in each phase of the motor coils with reference to the
voltage of the virtual neutral point CN2. In the back electromotive
voltage feedback mode, each of the comparators 34a to 34c is used
while absolute values of thresholds thereof is being reduced or
removed.
[0304] Moreover, in FIG. 28B, in both the searching start mode and
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, the voltage generated
in the non-conduction phase is detected by the same output. Thus,
with the selection circuit 32e, inputs to the virtual difference
voltage detector 40 and the comparators 34a to 34c can be provided
using the same terminal line.
[0305] According to the configuration of the present embodiment, as
in the case of Embodiment 1, shift from the searching start mode to
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode can be smoothly
performed without a rotor position sensor, thereby stably and
quickly starting the motor.
EMBODIMENT 7
[0306] A disk driving system using the motor driving apparatus
described in the above embodiments is described. FIG. 29 shows a
configuration of an optical disk driving system 100 as one example
of the disk driving system. In the disk driving system 100 shown in
FIG. 29, a motor drive circuit 103 corresponds to the motor driving
apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiments.
[0307] An optical pickup 105 irradiates an optical disk 200 such as
a CD (compact disk) or a DVD (digital versatile disk) with optical
beams, and outputs information on the optical disk 200 as a
reproduction signal to a reproduction signal processing circuit 101
by means of the reflected light. The reproduction signal processing
circuit 101 corrects the amplitude of the inputted reproduction
signal. A reproduction signal demodulating circuit 102 demodulates
the reproduction signal subjected to the amplitude correction to
generate the information recorded on the optical disk 200.
[0308] A servo circuit 115 controls rotation of a motor 104 through
a motor drive circuit 103 such that the optical disk 200 rotates at
a rotational speed commanded by a microcomputer 120. The
reproduction signal processing circuit 101 generates a focus error
signal which is an error signal in a focusing direction of the
optical beams, and a tracking error signal which is an error signal
in a tracking direction of the optical beam focus.
[0309] The servo circuit 115 controls a focus actuator 111 through
a focus drive circuit 113 on the basis of the focus error signal
generated in the reproduction signal processing circuit 101 such
that the optical beam is focused on a recording face of the optical
disk 200. Further, the servo circuit 115 controls the optical beam
focus in a tracking direction through a tracking drive circuit 109
and a tracking actuator 107 such that the optical beam focus traces
the recording track on the optical disk. Such an operation is so
called tracking servo.
[0310] In the above, some of the embodiments of the present
invention are described. According to the above embodiments, in the
searching start mode which is a mode for the start of the motor,
rotor position determination is performed on the basis of the
virtual difference voltage which is a difference voltage between a
voltage at a neutral point (virtual neutral point) of the resistor
circuit provided in parallel with the motor coils and a terminal
voltage of the motor coil of non-conduction phase, to provide an
appropriate rotational speed (rotation start torque) at the initial
start of the motor. Since the virtual difference voltage includes
no effect of the back electromotive voltage, detection of the
virtual difference voltage enables detection of the rotor position
information while being independent of the effect of the back
electromotive voltage, thereby ensuring the initial start of the
motor. Further, in the searching start mode, sufficient
acceleration provided allows subsequent mode shift to the back
electromotive voltage feedback mode to be smoothly performed,
thereby quickly and reliably starting the motor without rotor
position sensors.
[0311] Further, at the start of the motor, even when the rotor is
located at a dead point where the rotor position detection is
impossible, the kick pulse for displacing the rotor position can be
imparted to eliminate the dead point, so as to allow reliable motor
start.
[0312] Moreover, the response signal of the virtual difference
voltage may be detected when the search signal to be imparted for
searching the rotor position is present within a predetermined
range, and it is thereby possible to perform accurate rotor
position determination with the virtual difference voltage having
good quality. Further, the virtual difference voltage detector 40
may include a difference voltage detecting means having the
level-shift function, and it is thereby possible to control the
range of the input voltage into the AD converter without depending
upon the power supply voltage which determines the drive amplitude
of the motor driving section, and further to reduce the accuracy
and the function of the AD converter.
[0313] From the advantages as thus described, the present invention
is applicable to the case of requiring self-controllability of the
motor, and to the case of a low-cost motor driving system.
[0314] Furthermore, in the searching start mode, in the second and
subsequent rotor position searching processes, the rotor position
search pulse may be applied only to the combination of conduction
phases in number smaller than the number of conduction phases in
combination selected in the first process. Thereby, it is thereby
possible to reduce the starting period until the mode is shifted to
the back electromotive voltage feedback mode, so as to improve the
starting speed.
[0315] The rotor position information by the rotor position search
pulse with the two-phase conduction is larger in amount of
information of the rotor position detectable region than the rotor
position information by the rotor position search pulse with the
three-phase conduction. Therefore, occurrence of restart of the
motor due to the dead point of the rotor position information can
be reduced more by performing the rotor position search with the
two-phase conduction than by performing the rotor position search
with the three-phase conduction. Thereby, it is possible to reduce
the occurrence of restart in the searching start mode and perform
starting acceleration by imparting the optimum rotation start
torque, so as to quickly and reliably start the motor without the
rotor position sensors.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0316] According to the motor driving apparatus and the motor
driving method of the present invention, it is possible to perform
accurate rotor position determination for achieving stable and high
rotational speed, and thus contribute high-speed start of the
system. Further, it is also possible to improve the starting speed
resistant to variations in load at the start of the motor. Such
control is easily realized at low cost, and is extremely useful for
a cheap, stable high-performance sensorless motor driving unit.
[0317] The specific embodiments of the present invention were
described in the present invention. However, many other modified
examples, corrections and other applications are apparent for the
skilled person in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not
limited by the specific disclosure in this specification but can
only be limited by the attached claims. The present application is
related to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-172848, filed on
Jun. 22, 2006, content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
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